Kochi: In an effort to build an International Highway of Information, 6,000 colleges and 800 universities in the country would be connected with Fibre
Optics in the next 3-4 years, Union HRD, IT and Telecom
Minister, Kapil Sibal, on Sunday said.
Addressing students and teachers of the Rajagiri Public
School at nearby Kalamassery, Sibal said once the connectivity
was through there will be a flow of information which will be
free of any charges.
There will be a global opportunity as India will be
providing the workforce of the world by 2050, the minister
said adding the country would be the hub of knowledge.
While by 2020, the average age of Indians will be 29 years,
in Italy, Germany and Japan, the average age would be over 60
years.
The nature of education has changed. Access to knowledge is
diversified. It is no longer a dialogue or solo act between
teacher and student. `The right of choice to children to learn
want he wants is democracy. Allow the child the choice not
only at school level but also at the university level`, sibal
said.
The minister also handed over the keys of the fully equipped
Physics, Chemistry and Biology Laboratories and books for the
library to the HMT School Kalamassery.
The students of the Rajagiri school had through the ishare
project which began in 2009 raised the funds for 3 labs and
library by contributing rs one per day from their pocket
money.
PTI
