Ahmedabad, 17 May 2013

Releasing the Book titled – “At the career threshold” – What after Standard 12?, National Spokesperson of Congress party and in-charge of Gujarat Mr. Mohan Prakashji stated that selection of courses after Standard-12 becomes very important. This is a humble effort by Congress party for the eighth consecutive year to make available this book with a view to help students of Gujarat for selection of proper courses in the present days of competitive age keeping in view their abilities. This Career Guidance Program has been given prominent place in the report published of Indian National Congress Committee at its National Convention.

The Union Government led by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the National President of Congress Party Smt. Sonia Gandhi has enacted a special Act “Right to Education Act” for ensuring constitutional right of every child to have education. Government of Gujarat has remained directionless so far as implementation of this Right to Education Act is concerned. Large scale commercialization has taken place in the State of Gujarat.

Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President Mr. Arjun Modhwadia stated at this event of release of Book tilted “Karkirdi na umbrae – what after Std. 12?” that Government of India has established national level institutes like IIT, NID New Campus, Central University and Indian Institute of Information Technology which will prove to be landmark and matter of pride for the State of Gujarat. On the one hand, Government of India is allocating crores of rupees grants from Education to all and literate India program, whereas, on the other hand, Government of Gujarat is wasting money meant for education on celebrations and festivities which result into depriving students of Gujarat from quality educational facilities.

In Gujarat, the Bhartiya Janta Party rule where industrialists are fed up to satisfy their hunger for money whereas only 13.9% of total budget is allocated for education of children and youth of Gujarat which has ranked Gujarat in the bottom of list of all the States with rank of 14th number and as a result of this, with literacy rate of 79.13, Gujarat is pushed back to 12th rank in the table from earlier 9th rank. It has ranked at 14th so far as Education Index is concerned, with drop out rate of 59.11% amongst children of age of 6 to 16 years the State has slipped down to 14th rank and it has been the last in the table at 28th rank in case of children with capability of reading and writing English – with rate of 7.95 only.

The Government of India has allocated Rs.31,000 crores for primary education in the Budget whereas Rs.31,200 crores have been allocated under Skill Development Mission. Special scholarship provisions are introduced for children of S.C., S.T. and minority community. By establishing Knowledge Network, Government of India has inter-linked more than 400 Universities and more than 100 national institutes with each other. 19,000 knowledge network nodes have been established in the country. He extended congratulations on behalf of the Congress party to Congress Spokesperson Dr. Manish Doshi and his team who complied this publication.

Extending his wishes at the event of release of Book tilted “Karkirdi na umbrae – what after Std. 12?”, Legislative party leader Mr. Shankarsinji Vaghela stated that the work of publication of this career guidance book providing guidance for career selection after Standard 12 and 12, by a dedicated Congress party leader Dr. Manish Doshi (Engineer) and all his associates on behalf of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee is worth appreciation and congratulated all of them.

Mr. Shankarsinhji Vaghela further stated that the UPA government lead by Congress party has allocated five times more grants during 10th Five Year Plan, 11th Five Year Plan and 12th Five Year Plans for the Education. However, efforts by State Government to make available education to all are gradually reducing and the education sector is becoming commercialized at a fast speed. Government of Gujarat should increase scholarship to meritorious students and extend them financial support.

At the event of release of Book tilted “Karkirdi na umbrae – what after Std. 12?”, prominent leader of Congress party Mr. Shaktisinh Gohil stated that more than 70% posts of Professors are vacant in Government engineering, pharmacy, degree, diploma colleges in the State. Results of Gujarat Technological University which conducts examinations of Engineering and Pharmacy course are very poor. A result of pass out of engineering courses is only 38%, 39% for pharmacy and 38% in MBA and 18% in Diploma courses. It appears that the B.J.P. Government is more worried about managements of such technical, medical and other colleges rather than students and parents of such colleges who are paying exorbitant fees. Editor of the Book tilted “Karkirdi na umbrae – what after Std. 12?”

Dr. Manish Doshi (Engineer) who has been publishing this career guidance book for the eighth consecutive year stated that there are ample opportunities of different courses available in the State and national level after Standard 12, but what is required is timely and proper guidance to the students. Congress party has made this effort to make available maximum information after contacting various educational institutes as also experts of various fields and organizations engaged in career guidance work. This book contains information on more than 150 different courses available to the students of Arts, Commerce and Science after Standard 12 as also information on various special professional courses available. Also published is the information on list of colleges with number of seats available at respective institutes and the cut off marks for the last year admissions to such engineering, pharmacy, medical, para-medical courses. Detailed information on more than 40 entrance tests is published with information on National Institutes.

Special section is there for information on courses available to physical challenged persons. Information along with website addresses of various courses which are not available in the State are also given including information on entrance tests and lists of special courses conducted by such institutions. Keeping in view 1600 KM long coastal area of Gujarat, information has been specifically given on courses of navy, naval, shipping as also air force, IAS, professor etc. providing information on requirements of specific qualifications for such courses. Information is also given for those students who are unable to attend regular schooling, by providing information of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOUS) and Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Open University which are conducting external education courses. Details on education loans and scholarships provided by various government departments and private Trusts are special feature of this book.

Financial assistance will be given by the Government of India under Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme and interest subsidy on education loan under Central Sector Scheme for Education Loan.

Detailed information including procedures to be followed in this regard is provided in this book. Such schemes will be of great help to the parents from middle class society who are worried about high fees for education of their children in Gujarat.

This book will be available free of cost at every Talauka / District / Pradesh Congress offices as also it will be available at Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee website.