New Delhi: Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister, Arjun Singh has said that, "We will definitely achieve the General Enrolment Ratio (GER) increase of 5 percent during the 11th Plan with Equity and Excellence."

Arjun Singh made these closing remarks at the Conference of Ministers of State Governments of Higher and Technical Education here today.

Here is the full text of closing remarks of the HRD Minister at the conference:

"Personally, for me, this Conference has been most rewarding. At the last Conference on the 10th and 11th April, 2007, we had arrived at several points of consensus. I would not hesitate to state that at that time some of those actionable points had appeared to be highly ambitious. Never the less, when we look back at what has been done since that last meeting; both the Centre and our States would find our achievements comforting. As you would have seen, much has been done both by the States and the Centre.

Together, our efforts would result in enhancing capacity of intake, increase access to the most deserving and the marginalized, improve quality, strengthen academic activities, encourage research, promote objective assessment and accreditation, and provide flexibility for achieving relevance of higher and technical education in accordance with social and economic priorities of our nation.

I am particularly impressed with the efforts being made by some states - Chief Minister of Goa's presentation, to name just one - where several innovations being pursued.

I am comforted by the thought that the general direction and the commitment put forth by the Central Government is being endorsed by States through the various initiatives presented at the conference by them.

For example, some of the States have already started interest subsidy schemes on education loans, and while complimenting States for these initiatives, I am sure these would continue to be proactively pursued as supplementary to any similar schemes emerging from the Centre.

I am very happy that we have been able to evolve a broad consensus and an agreed line of action for achieving the XI Plan targets. Most of you have agreed to go back and emphasize on your respective Governments to substantially raise allocations for the XI Plan.

It should be raised by at least 2.5 to 3 times by all the States and Union Territories, if we have to achieve the target of expenditure on education of 6 percent of GDP.

I also saw a consensus on the need to fill up all the vacancies of teachers. As I notice, some states have already started the process of recruitments.

With a view to strengthen your hands, I will write to the Chief Ministers of all states, as well as request Planning Commission, to specifically review this item at the time of finalization of Annual Plans.

I also thank you for reiterating our consensus at the last Conference that there should be special consideration and incentives for locating institutions to service marginalized sections and disadvantaged sections.

As I see it, the state level schemes of higher and technical education would also reflect this priority in the contribution from states towards the XIth Plan schemes of the Central Government.

Various views have been expressed about the funding of the new colleges to be set up in districts with low Gross Enrolment Ratio, and some states seem prefer to a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and some others have expressed the view that the UGC route of funding State Universities for setting up colleges.

Let me also take this opportunity to thank all states for so readily coming forward with land, temporary accommodation and promise of other facilities for the new institutions being established during XIth Plan.

For increasing the access by almost 5 percent in GER terms, we have to find innovative solutions. I would therefore, strongly recommend that states should make use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to increase access as it is much more cost effective.

At the same time we should also ensure that there is some convergence between the Open and Distance Learning system and the Conventional Education System as both would complement each other and lead to strengthening of Quality and Standards of both, rather than creating any dilution in quality.

Although different views have been expressed on the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model, my understanding is that a number of states have shown their willingness to encourage this, without in any way abdicating the effective and necessary role required to be played by the Centre and States.

I am also happy that the AICTE has come up with the idea of permitting 2nd shift in all Polytechnics and has also agreed to permit the Engineering Colleges to run in the 2nd shift, Polytechnics or Engineering Colleges from the next academic session in rural areas and in States having a low GER.

However, I would like AICTE to quickly consider and permit this from this year onwards. I would like the AICTE not to insist on watertight compartments for their Engineering and Technical courses.

However they can insist on the requirement of laboratory or other infrastructure.

With your assurance and support, I am quite confident that we will definitely achieve the GER increase of 5 percent during XI Plan with equity and excellence.

I thank all of you for making this conference very purposeful and fruitful.

We will be very happy to have such a conference every six months as mentioned by some Honourable Ministers. Jai Hind".