Envisaging a paradigm shift in the prevalent education system in the country, educationist and chairman of Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited, Prof Ram Takwale on Thursday said the education offered to young minds should be innovation centric.

“It is the need of the hour that educational pattern should witness a sea change in the current age of globalisation. Our education system should be more application oriented and innovation centric, which would prepare students to meet global challenges,” he said.

Takwale was speaking at the inauguration of a three-day conference on ‘Media and Education’ hosted here by Art of Living foundation as a part of a series of conferences organised by International Association for Human Values with support from UNESCO.

Former Vice-chancellor of IGNOU and University of Pune, Takwale, said that education offered to youth should bring out multi-dimensional growth and should not be confined only to availing monetary benefits.

“The aim of education is that it should inculcate universal human values in youth,” he said, terming the tenets of Indian Constitution as an ideal source of  human values for youths.

Takwale also exhorted the need for drastic change in mindset of teachers for playing the role of agents of change for reviving the education system.

“Teachers have to become more experimental in their teaching jobs. They have to do away with the traditional methods of teaching,” he said.

A panel discussion on the theme of the conference took place after the inauguration, which was attended by educationist V D Sevekar, academic and administrative head of IMDR Ajay Nagre, Marathi author and social activist Dr Anil Awachat, journalist Vinita Deshmukh among others.

Around 200 delegates, including bureaucrats, educationists, mediapersons have been participating in the conference, where panel discussions and presentations will take place.

TAKWALE OPINES

- Innovation-centric education is need of the hour

- Education system should be application-oriented to meet global challenges 

- Multi-dimensional growth and not mere monetary benefits for students