He was speaking at the valedictory function of ‘National Knowledge Commission’s Recommendations on Higher Education’ in Bangalore.

Terming examination as “terrorist attack on students”, he said that unless the exam pattern is changed it will not be possible to revise the syllabus.

Change in exam pattern leads to automatic changes in various factors, he said adding that students should be encouraged to develop skills like problem solving, logical thinking instead of simply memorising the lessons.

Not sufficient
Mr Chandrashekar said that 1.5 per cent GDP for education is not sufficient. “If one were to implement the recommendation proposed in NKC, then 1.5 per cent GDP is inadequate,” he said and wanted the GDP to be increased to anywhere between 2 and 2.5 per cent. It is important to retain quality while planning for expansion of universities or colleges, he added.

Institute for Social and Economic Change Chairman S L Rao said that NKC does not focus sufficiently on the gap existing between research and teaching in both natural and social sciences nor does it suggest any solution.
Delivering the valedictory address, he said that due to this gap, there is a decline in number of research papers and also in the quality of PhDs. “This must be reversed. It can be done by attaching independent research institutions to the teaching institutions.  And, researchers must also teach,” he said.

Restricted
He said that NKC does not look at governance at Central and State levels. Splitting of primary, secondary and higher and professional education must be removed but it should be restricted to one ministry, he said.
“The involvement of local communities to appoint teachers with some flexibility in remuneration is required,” he said, adding that the participation of the parents is equally preferred.

Accountability
Mr Rao said that there was a need for accountability among faculty and those who run institutions.
He suggested that teachers should be given pension and post retirement housing benefits.  “There is a need for refresher training for teachers,” he said.

He also suggested revision of curriculum every three years, public private partnerships, removal of subject discipline and encouragement of sound management and investments of funds.