US universities welcomed for joint ventures: PM

Betwa Sharma
Washington, Nov 24 (PTI) Noting that human resource
development was critical to India's development, Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh has said the dearth of quantity and
quality of teachers is the main obstacle and invited US
universities to forge partnerships with their Indian
counterparts.
Singh said his government was working on a major plan to
expand education system for which 40 universities, including
the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian
Institute of Managements (IIMs), would be set up.
"It goes without saying that human resource development
is probably the most critical component of our development
aspirations," he said during an interaction at the US-India
Business Council (USIBC) after his address there.
"Our biggest problem in expanding our educations system
particularly at the higher education level is the deficiency
in the quantity and quality of qualified teachers," he said in
response to a question.
"We believe that with joint ventures with their US
counterpart, this deficiency can be removed," Singh added.
The invitation to American varsities assumes significance
as the Indian government is set to enact a legislation that
will allow entry of foreign universities in the country.
The Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry
and Operations, Maintenance of Quality and Prevention of
Commercialisation) Bill is ready for introduction in the
Parliament. (More) PTI