Essential to impart quality education to youth: Pranab Mukherjee

Stressing on the need for imparting quality education to the youth, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said quality upgradation is essential to meet the standards like ancient days when India used to dominate the world scenario in the realm of higher education.

"Our country remains as exciting a place to live in and grow with, as it was 58 years ago. India needs capable and committed graduates, more so now, to keep her firmly engaged with the future," he said during second convocation of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Bhopal.

The youth of country is brimming with energy and aspiration. "They have to be imparted quality education and requisite skills to beat competition and meet success," he said. Mukherjee expressed concern over the present educational standards of country's institutions. "Many a times I have expressed my concerns on the standard of Indian universities compared to world standard.

"Wayback in September 2012, in the annual convocation of Indian Institute of Technology,  Kharagpur, I had expressed my sense of dismay on seeing not a single Indian institution finding a place amongst the top 200 universities in the world in international rankings," he said. Mukherjee said in ancient days India dominated world scenario in the realm of higher education.

"If we were to achieve it (top place) in past why can't we achieve it now. We don't have dearth of talents. Our students are bright," the President said. Mukherjee said the cornerstone of quality upgradation is promotion of excellence in country's academic institutions, with no leniency for mediocrity.

Highlighting over half of country's young population of 25 years or less age, Mukherjee suggested imparting quality education to help them beat competition and work towards nation's development. He said education is an investment that can truly fashion a country ' prospects and shape its future generations. "And if a country has over half its population aged 25 years or less, which is what India's position is today, then the significance of a robust education system is undeniably strong," the President said.