CM Siddaramaiah pushes for rational and scientific mindset in graduates

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiahsaid that the nation, society, and universities are rendered ineffective if graduates emerge without a scientific and rational mindset, instead harboring superstitions.

He urged educators to imbue graduates with scientific temper during a meeting held on August 21. The conference took place at Vidhana Soudha, chaired by the Chief Minister, and included university vice-chancellors and senior officials from the higher education department.

“Universities should produce graduates who will lead the country. Equip graduates with scientific, rational, economic, and civil ideals,” he said.

The Chief Minister directed officials to conduct research and take necessary measures to enhance student enrolment rates and education quality in districts with low GER, such as Chamarajanagar, Yadgir, Hassan, Koppal, and Kodagu.

The meeting’s key highlights were as follows:

• Vice-chancellors of 31 public universities in the state and senior officials from the higher education department were present.
• Karnataka’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Higher education is 36 percent as opposed to a National GER of 27.4 percent.
• Karnataka to target for GER of 50 percent by 2030
• Male GER stands 34.8 percent whereas Female GER is 37.2 percent.
• GER for SCs and STs is lower than National GER.  GER for SCs is 25.6% while for STs it’s just 23.4percent.
• 32.1 lakh students enrolled across 31 public universities in Karnataka.