Emphasis on quality, says Javadekar

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said the Narendra Modi-led government will make academicians, teachers and students partners in improving quality of education.

In his first public programme after assuming charge of the crucial portfolio, the Minister also said he will try to solve the grievances of teachers and students on issues related to education.

Addressing students and teachers at a central school here, Javadekar, who has replaced Smriti Irani as HRD Minister, sought "cooperation of everybody" to improve quality of education, particularly in Kendriya Vidyalayas and other educational institutions in the country.

"That is what will make the nation great nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid emphasis on quality of education and we all will be travelling in that direction.

"Therefore, there are educationists, there are officers, you are students, and teachers...All will be partner in our endeavour to improve the quality of education," he said.

The minister while interacting with students and teachers, received a memorandum from a teacher.

"If minister goes to a programme and he doesn't receive a memorandum, he will feel that he has not done anything. But I am not only taking this memorandum, I will read it and I will solve it," Javadekar said.

Soon after assuming charge, the minister had said education is not a subject for "party politics" and he was open to suggestions from everyone.

Javadekar had said education should be seen as an "emancipator" and "agent of change" and he would come out with a roadmap after consultations with the Prime Minister and others including Irani.

During the interaction with students, Javadekar said his 92-year-old mother who stays with him was a primary school teacher herself and he "values" teachers' contribution to the society.

"My mother is 92. She was a primary school teacher. She taught me. Tomorrow, I am organising a programme in Pune. Everybody wanted to felicitate me. I told them don't felicitate me. Instead I will felicitate my teachers who taught me in Schools and Colleges. So, tomorrow I am organising a programme- Guruvandana-- in Pune," he said.