HRD ministry’s global education conference to focus on skill development

THE HRD MINISTRY WILL HOLD THE TWO-DAY EVENT AT MAHATMA MANDIR, GANDHINAGAR, THE VENUE OF GUJARAT’S ANNUAL INVESTOR’S SUMMIT

NEW DELHI: The human resource development ministry (HRD) ministry is planning to hold an international conference on education in November this year with a view to raise India’s profile globally in the field. The event will be on the lines of London/Chicago international education conferences.

The HRD ministry will hold first event at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, the venue of Gujarat’s annual investor’s summit.

The agenda for the two day conference, which is at its conceptual stage, will include education empowering the economy, education and innovation, technical expertise and improving skills, vocational education, language and path for foreign collaboration in primary education among others.

Sources in the ministry said different sub groups for identifying specific topics and speakers both national and international will be formed soon.

To rope in sponsors the ministry will reach out to the UN bodies and World Bank.

The conference the ministry believes will show to the world that India is not lagging behind in both primary and higher education.

The latest United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report on education said India has made striking progress towards reaching its ‘Education for All’ goals reducing its ‘out of school children by over 90% since 2000 and achieving “universal primary education.”

The report however slammed the country for tardy progress on adult literacy and quality of learning outcomes.

“While India’s education system succeeded in enrolling many more children, there were wide disparities in students’ achievement of basic skills across the states,” the report said.

International conferences are a regular feature abroad with London holding it annually.