NEW DELHI, JULY 23: A two-day conference of education ministers on Higher & Technical Education opened on Wednesday in the national Capital with Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh asking states to increase their investment in the sector and to cooperate with the Centre.

“The 11th Plan is very ambitious. The Prime Minister has allotted funds and education has become the biggest beneficiary. The plan can be fruitful only when it is carried out by close cooperation of all the states — expansion itself would not be of much use unless it is accompanied with equity. If there is no equity, the very purpose of education would be defeated. I hope the states are aware of their socio-justice requirements and would do all to mandate them,” said the HRD Minister.

While elaborating on various projects and plans to be implemented under the 11th Plan, he asked the states to help curb the menace of fake universities and unrecognised colleges.

“I come to a rather sensitive issue—it is affecting a large number of students whose time, money and energy is wasted at the end when they come to know that the college they are studying in is not a recognised college. Parents shell out money for their wards which just goes down the drain. We should find out which institutes are covered by all regulations and which is a wild card institute fleecing people. I seek your cooperation. We will supply the names and addresses of all such colleges but you have to take action against them. This is a blot on higher education in the country and the sooner it goes, the better it is for us,” Singh added.

Secretary of Higher Education R P Agarwal pointed out how the share of states in the education sector had been dwindling over the years even as the Centre was increasing its share considerably.