Education eradicates evils: Kerala Governor

Delivering a special address at the valedictory function of the Golden Jubilee of All India Association for Christian Higher Education at The American College in Madurai, Sathasivam said that he hailed from a poor family and had completed his education in government schools and colleges though he had wished to study in some of the premier institutes like Loyola and MCC.

But education, irrespective of the place it is offered, is a powerful tool for social change and had helped in the eradication of social evils. In the pre-independence era the society was characterised by inequality and education was not provided to all. Under the scenario the entry of Christian Missionaries opened the door for people for even the deprived classes and it helped eradicate social evils.

Social reformers such as Sri Narayana Guru and Swami Vivekananda had given great importance to education. India was once a pioneer in education and even women education blossomed much before other countries could even think of.

The higher education scenario in India is fast changing and stress is given to skill education. He also said that when he took charge as Governor of Kerala he had invited Vice Chancellors of all the 14 universities in Kerala and had informed them that the best performing University would be given Chancellor’s award on an annual basis. Kerala government has sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the award. 

Earlier, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien in his address, said that though Christians are minority in the country and constitute less than 10 percent of the population, large number of educational institutions are run by them. Though these institutions were started for service oriented education some of them had deviated from the motive and had become profit oriented. Christian Education Institutions are given various incentives by the government and they should not be misused by them said Kurien.

G Viswanathan, Chancellor, VIT University, Vellore, in his address, said that in 1960 per capita income of India, China, Japan and South Korea were all the same but now their income had increased dramatically due to the importance accorded to education. The amount spent for education in India which is presently at 3.5 percentage should be increased. Top 20 countries in the world which are leading in education spend close to 7 percentage of GDP for education, Viswanathan added. Madurai Collector K. Veera Raghav Rao and other important officials and educationists participated.