Union edu minister stresses on women empowerment

Coimbatore: “While it was not easy to transfer the traditional classroom learning to e-learning environment, we managed not to let the Covid-19 pandemic affect the academic performance by conducting examinations, including entrance examinations like NEET. If 2020-21 was announced a zero academic year, it would have affected students,” Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal told students of the Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women here on Friday.
“With more than 1,000 universities, 50,000 colleges and lakhs of teachers and students, it was not easy to shift to the e-learning environment.We not just adapted the shift, but also conducted several programmes, including webinars, workshops and faculty development programmes,” Pokhriyal said while addressing the students virtually during the 32nd convocation ceremony of the institution.
Speaking about the new education policy (NEP), the minister said it will make the country self-sufficient and make the world look up to us. “The Cambridge University called the policy a reform and appreciated it.”
“Students’ talent will be identified in the young age itself and their skills will be honed from Class VI by providing vocational training along with internship. A large number of students can become entrepreneurs. Local ideas will be showcased at global forums,” Pokhriyal said.
Speaking about women empowerment, the minister said, “All steps we take towards the development of the world are useless without empowering women. Women’s role is important in the development of the country. So, it is necessary to bridge the gender gap in literacy rate.”
As many as 2,506 students, including 39 PhD students, received their degrees during the ceremony.