Mangaluru: Karnataka govt is prioritising the strengthening of knowledge- and skill-based technical education across industrial sectors and is working to empower youth in line with industry expectations, higher education minister MC Sudhakar said Friday.Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) College, Ujire, he said steps to expand skill-based technical education would follow prescribed curriculum frameworks, with a sector-wise focus that considers the needs and priorities of both traditional and emerging industries.
Referring to NITI Aayog’s observations on the shortage of higher education institutions in the country, he said norms require at least 30 institutions per one lakh population. Karnataka, he said, has more than 66 higher education institutions as required, attributing this progress to encouragement for both private and govt sectors.He said govt–private partnership opportunities have helped increase the number of women pursuing higher education. The rise in female graduates in the last two-and-a-half years, he added, reflects a positive trend in women’s empowerment.The minister highlighted the ‘Deepika’ scheme implemented by Karnataka govt in collaboration with the Azim Premji Foundation to expand educational opportunities for women. Under the scheme, female students who studied up to Class 10 and first and second-year PUC in govt institutions receive an annual scholarship of Rs 30,000 for three years, starting from the last academic year. He said 1.6 lakh students have registered under the scheme and praised the foundation’s support.Presiding over the event, D Veerendra Heggade, president of SDM Educational Institutions and Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, announced the establishment of an agricultural university and urged graduates to work with determination towards nation-building.
