The Chancellor mentioned that he has already initiated the process towards autonomy to colleges and assured that all the deserving colleges in the State would get the status soon. He said that he has appointed a committee of Vice Chancellors to look into the steps towards autonomy and a meeting has been convened in mid-January to finalise the process.

In a thought-provoking speech, delivered at the inaugural function of the 19th annual State-level conference of Akhil Maharashtra Federation of Principals' Association of Non-Government Colleges here on Thursday, the Governor discussed, step-by-step, the malaise that has gripped the education system in the country, leading to the failure of achieving its very basic objectives.

He said while the East India Company introduced formal education in the country with an objective to churn out products who could serve in the positions created by them, the first ever Education Policy evolved in post-Independence India aimed at rooting the education in Indian culture. The main objective of the education system, as that of various other formal systems, was provided by the Preamble to the Constitution of India, as development of the nation and safeguarding of democracy.

Dr Alexander bemoaned the education system's gross failure to achieve these objectives even partially. He said development aims at equality for all citizens, not only in law and status but mainly in the opportunity to develop to one's highest potential. However, the present education system has failed to tap the ingrained intelligence of the Indian race and is only churning out half-finished products armed with a degree or diploma.

He said the system is totally unsuitable in the present competitive world. It teaches the students how to pass and what to think - not how to think.

The system has miserably failed to promote equality of opportunity and has rather created and perpetuated inequalities, Alexander further said. ``I charge, with fullest responsibility, that our education system is contributing to inequality of opportunities,'' the Chancellor said.

He said vast and wide disparities have been created in the standards of education in the country and it has become imperative that a product of a particular institution will get a clear headstart over his counterpart from so-called `worse' institutions. It is also clear that only those children, who hail from a particular background, can gain access to better institutions. This has created inequality, even worse than the caste system, Alexander observed.

He termed the failure of the system to inculcate values of life among students as the most striking one. Along with the family system, the education system has condoned and perpetuated wrong values in students and created a society where dishonesty, malpractice and corruption is the name of the game. He further charged that the system has also failed to inculcate the values of democracy and the average Indian has lost pride in the nation.

Alexander said that we have failed in strengthening the unity and integrity of our nation and whatever we achieved in the pre-Independence period is being slowly but surely lost, with evils like casteism, regionalism and sectarianism raising its heads like never before.

He said that the educationists cannot absolve themselves of their responsibility by asking what they could do. He did not stop at making a critical appraisal but also came forward with a set of suggestions to bring about a change in the system.

He said that principals must start a movement to demand autonomy, not only from universities but also from their respective managements, so that they can seriously go about the task to turn their institutions into centres of excellence. Once they gain autonomy, the Governor said, the colleges can charge higher fees from those who can afford, attract NRI students and involve the former and now well-placed students in its affairs and look forward to develop themselves to their full potential.

Dr Bhalchandra Chopane, Vice Chancellor of Nagpur University, presided over the function. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Chopane said external and internal pressures such as changes in economic and social patterns, scientific development, increased social aspirations, international trends and competitions and explosion of Information Technology has imbalanced the system and thrown it out of shape. He said we will have to find ways to bring the system back to shape.

The welcome address was delivered by Panna Akhani, president of the federation. K R Patil, secretary general, read the annual report. Haribhau Kedar, former Vice Chancellor, was felicitated on the occasion by the Governor personally. Alexander also released a souvenir.

Dr G D Sharma, secretary, University Grants Commission, and Ackamma Alexander, wife of the Governor, were present on the occasion. The programme was conducted by Rao, while the vote of thanks was proposed by R G Bhoyar, secretary of the Federation.