Joseph Varghese

Doha Minister of State for Human Resources and External Affairs E Ahamed said on Saturday that the Indian government was in talks with the Qatari counterpart for the opening of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Doha. Speaking at the 24th annual conference of the Gulf Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Principals in Doha on Saturday, the minister said that the discussion for setting up an IIT campus in Doha had been going on for some time and hoped that the Qatari government would approve the proposal soon. Regarding the entry of foreign universities in India, he said the government had given permission to local universities to partner with any foreign varsity. "This will result in more dissemination of information and at the same time enrich the faculty of both the universities. Equipping Indian students with latest gadgets and helping them in carrying out research work is the top priority of the government. This will lead to technological advancements as well as growth of the country," he added. The minister said that the human resources ministry aimed to revamp the current evaluation system of students to make education more meaningful and to bring out their hidden talent. He said: "Right to Education bill should be followed in letter and spirit. The government plans to provide universal secondary and higher education to all Indians in the coming years. We are also working to make higher education affordable, equitable and acceptable to all Indians across the country." "The government is committed to provide quality education to all students in the country," he said.

CBSE Chairman Vineet Joshi addressed the gathering and said that a regional centre would be set up to sort out the issues related with the formative assessment system. Advising principals not to get bothered about the completion of the syllabus, he said that the aim of CBSE was to provide real knowledge to students. The chairman also promised to arrange a contact number for the gulf principals through which they can sort out their problems with the CBSE office. Indian ambassador to Qatar HE Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, newly elected CBSE Gulf Council Chairperson Shantha Maria James, Secretary, and the Principal of Birla Public School A K Shrivasatv also addressed the gathering. Ideal Indian School Principal Prof. Mohammed Aejas welcomed the guests.