Days after HRD Ministry struck down a proposal of IIM-Bangalore to open a branch abroad, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said educational institutions "must be freed from controls" and given "relative autonomy to function effectively and efficiently".
Refusing to comment on the IIM-B issue, he said, "There is a world of excellence which we must achieve to be able to compete universally and meet global competition."
Sibal said in an interview that educational institutions should strive for excellence. "In the world of excellence, education must meet global standards, but there should also be equity for people," he said.
"To the extent possible, education must be freed from controls... Educational institutions must be given relative autonomy to function efficiently and effectively," he said.
When specifically asked whether HRD Ministry's denial of permission to IIM-B to set up a branch in Singapore was justified, Sibal said he could not comment on it as he was not aware of the circumstances in which the decision was taken.
He said it was for the HRD Ministry to decide on that subject.
The minister, however, said the "government should take care that in the strive for excellence, equity should not be sacrificed and to secure equity, excellence should not be sacrificed. Excellence and equity must go hand in hand."
{{/usCountry}}The minister, however, said the "government should take care that in the strive for excellence, equity should not be sacrificed and to secure equity, excellence should not be sacrificed. Excellence and equity must go hand in hand."
{{/usCountry}}There was a need to maintain a balance between excellence and equity in the education sector, he said. On the problem of unemployment being faced by educated, Sibal said the country's economy should create more jobs to absorb educated people.