Ahmedabad, 4 September 2012

If elected to power, the Congress government in Gujarat will provide free laptops to the students. This was announced by Gujarat Congress leaders Arjun Modhwadia and Shankersinh Vaghela in a press conference in Ahmedabad to declare the sixth of its 12-point agenda for Gujarat assembly elections 2012.

Gujarat Congress President Arjun Modhwadia in a press conference said today that if Congress is voted to power, many constructive perks will be offered to the people of Gujarat including laptops to all the students after Standard-12, Government boys and girls hostels in urban areas, sports complexes at Taluka level, establishment of a University in Tribal area, no sanction for school without play ground and library, constitution of a special “Vidya Nidhi” for scholarship to poor and middle class students studying in Self-financed colleges, democratic elections of school and college students unions and bringing enactment of special Act for payment of full salaries to teachers of private educational institutions.

-Free laptops will be distributed to all the students after standard 12th till post-graduation so as to improve level of education from primary to University level and to enable student of Gujarat to compete globally by keeping them equipped with knowledge of computer and information technology. The graduate candidates having knowledge of I.T. and computer skills are in demand world-wide so far as employment opportunities are concerned; this facility will be able to make them competent, globally.

-For providing accommodation facilities to the students who come to metro cities from rural areas for pursuing their higher studies, arrangements will be made by construction separate hostels for boys and girls at the cost of Government for their lodging and boarding at reasonable charges.

-The Congress leaders stated that during last 17 years B.J.P. rule, educational institutes who are looting under the guise of self-financed education institutes have been encouraged. In such institutes, standards of fees fixed is beyond reach of middle class student. For the purpose of extending assistance of such students from poor and middle class families, a special “Vidya Nidhi” would be constituted from which Congress’s State Government would assist the students pursuing their studies in self-financed colleges. No student will have to abandon his study due to financial crisis. Fees of 30% of poor and middle class students studying in self-financed colleges will be paid from this Vidya Nidhi.

-Congress Government will make special arrangements of “Student Special Buses” during school-college timings.

-University Grants Commission norms will be followed for administration of Universities. The practice of nepotism will be discontinued in appointments of Vice Chancellors. For enhancing scope of education, model schools and model degree colleges will be established at every Districts. “Nayi Talim Board” will be constituted in the State for management of institutions functioning in the State on the model of Nayi Talim and Gandhian thoughts and provision for special grants for such institutional functioning at present for their management.

-Appointment of adequate number of teachers in primary schools also for quality education including English language to the poor and middle class students in Government schools, one English teacher for each school and in private primary schools of high standards also, the rule for admission to middle class families on 25% of seats free of cost will be enforced as per Right to Education Act, 2009
enacted by the Government of India. For easy availability of education loans, efforts will be made to coordinate with the Nationalised banks and cooperative banks. Pre-metric scholarship is not being extended to the minority students in the State for long time; once Congress is voted to power in the State, Pre-metric scholarship scheme will be implemented fully in the State and will be made effective from retrospective effect.

-Since British rule, elections of student unions of University and Colleges are being conducted in democratic way. So as to inspire values of democracy and develop qualities of patience since from their age of students, elections of student unions in Universities and Colleges will be conducted in democratic ways.

-A new university will be established for providing students in Tribal areas to ensure higher education opportunities at their doorstep.

-Teachers working with private schools and colleges are being exploited by paying them meager salaries. For ensuring full wages to such teachers, a special Act would be enacted so as to see that such teachers can impart quality education in such institutions.

-About 55% of vacancies in Government Colleges of technical education and about 60% vacancies in higher education will be filled in immediately. Industrial Training Institutes would be modernized and manpower would be trained following the needs of industries. Skill Development Corporation will be established on the pattern of National Skill Development Mission.