MARGAO
The president of Goa Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Sandip Bhandare, has highlighted the need for bridging the "gap" between the expectations of business and production from the academic institutions.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion of the 46 th VVM (Vidya Gvikas Mandal) Founders Day 2017, Bhandare said although India is termed as the fastest growing economy due to its demographic dividend, it is education which will decide whether this demographic dividend will be a positive factor or will turn into "demographic disaster".
Referring to education as a "great leveller" which helps obliterate differences between two persons, he pointed out to the gap between expectations of business and the production from the academic institutions. He also referred to certain aspects necessary to reap the demographic dividend. He said we need to look at the outcomes and that end products are important in this regard. Apart from evaluating the schools on the basis of students' performance, the GCCI president said attention must also be focussed on the research aspect of students, especially the research papers presented by the students.
"The government should promote and incentivise such institutions," he remarked. The GCCI president also mentioned the importance of "meritocracy" as well as the use of technology in the present era. "The use of technology must be ingrained in the system," he added.
Bhandare also advocated the "integration" between various stages of education and the "seamless transition" of the system in this regard. "Keep the end in mind. Curiosity is important," he stated.
Distinguished members of VVM alumni as well as the doctorate holders among the staff were also felicitated on this occasion. The alumni included Shashikant Shenoy (Chartered accountant), G P Kanekar, Sayonara Telles Laad (Additional Sessions Judge, South Goa),
