UP asks varsities to include vocation-based courses in syllabi

LUCKNOW: The state government has asked universities to include courses like pharmacy, nursing, biochemistry and biotechnology in their curricula, to prepare students for future challenges and calamities like Covid-19.

The decision was taken at a meeting held by chief minister Yogi Adityanath with senior ministers on Monday, deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, said in a tweet on Tuesday.

A press statement later issued by the state government read, that in the meeting, the CM stressed on imparting job-oriented courses to ensure better placements.

The chief minister said, “There is a need to make the environment competitive for higher education in the state that will not only provide better opportunities to students but will also strengthen society so that we can face challenges like Covid-19 with ease.”

In his tweet, Sharma said that the state universities have been asked to decide the syllabus in time. “Considering the challenges that the pandemic presents before us, we should alter the syllabus to prepare our children. We should include need based subjects,” he said.

A presentation was made before chief minister Yogi Adityanath by the higher education department officials about state universities, government and private colleges.

On the occasion, Yogi said that “universities and colleges should ensure that students get high quality education which prepares them for the competitive world.”

Additional chief secretary, higher education, Monika S Garg informed the CM that work is in progress to establish three new state universities in Saharanpur, Azamgarh and Aligarh.