Complete change of higher education system needed: Kalam

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam today advocated a "complete" change of the higher education framework in the country and stressed on skill development to come up with a workforce to meet future challenges.
Kalam suggested that students in schools and colleges be handed over "skill certificates" apart from the conventional degrees.
"In decades time, India will need 300 to 500 million employable skilled youth and there is a need to completely change the university education syllabus and secondary school education syllabus.
"Two certificates should be given to students. In schools, one skill certificate and one education certificate and in college, degree and diploma on the expertise acquired. In schools from class 9 to 12, 25 per cent of the time has to be alloted for skill development programme," he said.

Kalam, known as the 'Missile Man' for his contribution to Indian Guided Missile Development programme, was speaking on the occasion of third Malti Gyan Peeth Puraskar here.
Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were also present in the event in which 15 teachers from different government schools of Punjab were awarded.