Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal expressed his concern over the maddening commercialisation which is fast sapping the moral values out of our education system. Addressing the 88th annual convocation of Delhi University here on Saturday, Mr Sibal exhorted the students to be educated in the true sense and not aim at merely earning degrees.
“The commercialisation of education has shadowed ethics and moral values and hollowed our education system. Ironically, the purpose of education has been reduced to merely acquiring a degree. Education has become a highly remunerative business and it thrives on raising the income expectations of students,’ he said.
“The greatest education is not only what you have learnt here, but in knowing how to learn. The degrees will help you to make a living but it is your education that will help you to find a life”.
Mr Sibal asserted that the youth can change the image of the country from a nation of holidays to one of people who enjoy work.
“We need to become a nation of hard workers... Hard work not resources helped Japan rise up after the devastation of World War II. We need to change the perception of India being a nation of holidays to one of people who enjoy work,” Mr Sibal said.
“The Indian economy is booming. India has the most favourable growth path with 50 per cent of the population below the median age of 25. The world has shrunk like never before and knowledge has acquired a new significance and intellectual capital has become the prime mover of organisations and nations,” he said.
Defending the government functioning, he said that the system works in a transparent manner, while critics may argue that we are most corrupt and irresponsible.
The function was presided over by vice-chancellor Prof. Dinesh Singh. Over 190 students were conferred medals and prizes.
Over 384 Ph.D. degrees were given away on the occasion. The undergraduate and graduate degrees were conferred in absentia.