Chandigarh, January 24: Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal today inaugurated the newly constructed building of IGNOU Regional Centre, Karnal through video conferencing. Congratulating Vice Chancellor IGNOU, Professor Nageshwar Rao, Sh. Manohar Lal said that IGNOU with its 67 regional centers is working to provide higher education to the students. IGNOU is playing an important role in providing education to remote villages, he added.
IGNOU Regional Centre, Karnal was started in the year 1991 with only 9 study centers having 3200 students and today more than 99,000 students are taking education in 35 study centers including 12 study centers located in jails.
The Chief Minister said that the National Education Policy formulated under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi has the potential to take the ordinary students of the village and the city to achieve topmost positions in the world.
The National Education Policy is being appreciated across the country. It is capable to increase its base in global competition through its knowledge, scientific research, social science technology, and innovation, added Sh. Manohar Lal.
I am sure that IGNOU will be strengthened further with this regional center getting its own building and doors of higher education will open, said the Chief Minister.
In this programme, the Union Education Minister, Sh. Dharmendra Pradhan, through a written message also conveyed his best wishes and appreciated IGNOU for playing an important role in providing quality higher education in open and distance mediums since its inception.
The Union Education Minister talked about emphasizing the need for such education, which makes a person self-reliant. He said that making students Atmanirbhar is the key highlight of the New Education Policy. The New Policy integrates vocational education in bringing about a meaningful change in the education system.
IGNOU would prove to be a milestone in achieving the target of 50 percent Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by the year 2035, added Sh. Dharmendra Pradhan.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Nageshwar Rao, shared detailed information about the activities undertaken by the University in the difficult times of this Pandemic.
He said that the University, through its 67 regional centers and 21 schools, has provided academic support to the students using digital technology. IGNOU Regional Centre, Karnal will endeavour to provide higher education to lakh of the youth of Haryana State after the construction of this newly constructed building, he added.