The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Provide free seats to poor students: Governor

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Friday, Jun 03, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Others

Provide free seats to poor students: Governor

Staff Reporter

`Elite institutions need to offer level-playing field'

PEP TALK: The Governor, Surjith Singh Barnala, interacts with a student of Shree Sarasswathi Vidyaah Mandheer School after opening new blocks in the residential institution at Alangombu in Mettupalayam near Coimbatore on Thursday.

METTUPALAYAM: : Private educational institutions that provide quality education should also reserve free seats for poor students, the Governor, Surjith Singh Barnala, said here on Thursday. A level-playing field was needed for students who had the mettle to excel but did not have the resources to meet the high cost of education.

Opening new school and residential blocks at the Shree Saraswathi Vidhyaah Mandheer School at Alangombu here (40 km north of Coimbatore city), Mr. Barnala said: "Many poor students were competent and wanted to study well and rise in life. But they have no means to fund their education. Therefore, institutions should reserve free seats for these students."

The Governor observed that providing quality education had "become a trend" from which "we cannot go away".

For this, institutions of high quality would have to be established. The whole process of getting quality education had become extremely competitive. This was evident in students who had scored even 96 per cent in Plus-Two struggling to find admission to medical and engineering courses.

Quality education

To excel beyond this level quality education was the only option. But the rural areas did not have it. Students from these areas were unable to compete with those in the urban areas that enjoyed the benefits of good universities and colleges.

Quality education should penetrate the rural pockets also if all sections should benefit from it.

Later, in an interaction with students on the role of women in society, the Governor said education was vital to improve the status of women. "No country can prosper without emancipation of women. They are an integral part of society."

Mr. Barnala said it was heartening to note there were many educational institutions for women. "In fact, girls are doing better than boys in education."

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