State Government was contemplating to introduce Career Aptitude Test for post matric and Career Counseling Test to plus two and college students in the State. This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, in his presidential address delivered in ‘Pratibha Samman Samaroh-2011’ organized by Hindi Daily, Amar Ujala, to honour meritorious students in different disciplines of academics in the State here today.
Chief Minister said that the Career Aptitude and Career Counseling had emerged the need of the hour keeping in view the vast career opportunities available to the young educated people and help them in choosing right stream to be followed in their future career pursuits. He said that with the introduction of the Career Aptitude Test and Career Counselling Tests, the young people could avail opportunity to choose the right course for advanced studies. He said that the facility could avail to the students who had passed their matriculation examination and to the students of plus two and college going students so that they were able to prepare the road map to be followed in their future endeavours. He said that such an endeavour would go a long way in development of entrepreneurship amongst the young educated people during their school and college days.Prof. Dhumal said that that the State Government would also honour the educational institutions, their principals and teachers which would achieve cent percent results during each academic sessions. He said that such a decision had been taken keeping in view the performance of outstanding teachers who had been working overtime to ensure hundred percent results in their schools. He reiterated the resolve of the State Government to ensure quality education to the students at their door steps wherein cooperation of the private education institutions was also being encouraged to make Himachal Pradesh a ‘Knowledge Hub’. He said that the State had succeeded in setting up of Central University, NIFT and Food Craft Institute in Kangra; NIT, Hotel Management Institute and Technical University in Hamirpur, ESI Hospital and Medical College, IIT in Mandi which would be instrumental in bringing about qualitative improvement in the education system. He said that the state was live to the educational requirements of the vulnerable sections of the society and a large number of merit scholarships were available to the students. He said that the State Government was giving scholarship worth Rs. 17.02 crore to 1,07,770 students in the State annually.
Chief Minister said that the literacy rate which was only 7 at the time of the State came into being had increased to above 90 percent and the drop out rate of the school students had also reduced to 0.1 percent which would soon be zeroed down. He said that during the earlier term of 1998-03, the State
Government had constructed 13,672 pucca rooms providing three rooms to each of the government primary schools by spending Rs. 106 crore to achieve the objective. He said that it was the basic infrastructural facilities which had helped emerge State a role model in Education Sector in the country.
Prof. Dhumal appreciated the initiative of the media for organizing such a function in recognition of the academic achievements of the outstanding students which had not only motivated the prize winners but inspire other students to work hard to get such an award.
Emphasising the importance of media, Chief Minister urged for constructive role of media in dissemination of information in the right facts as wrong reports sometimes leads to a situation where there was no scope to put the things right.
Chief Minister distributed certificates and mementoes amongst the meritorious students on the occasion.
Shri Ishwar Dass Dhiman, Education Minister, lauded the initiative of the Hindi Daily which had motivated the enthusiasm of the young people. He said that it was the result of the positive thinking of the media and a great contribution towards the society. He detailed various initiatives taken by the State Government to strengthen the education sector in the State.
Shri Sunil Mutreja, Executive Director, Amar Ujala, welcomed the Chief Minister and presented detailed account of the social activities being undertaken by the Hindi Daily. He advised the prize winner students to respect their parents and teacher besides working hard to achieve new heights in their career.
Shri Udei Kumar, Executive Director, Amar Ujala, proposed vote of thanks and thanked all the dignitaries for their presence in the prestigious function of the newspaper.
Shri Gulab Singh Thakur, PWD and Revenue Minister, Shri Kishan Kapoor, Industries Minister, Shri Narender Bragta, Horticulture and Technical Education Minister, Shri Suresh Bhardwaj, local MLA, Shri Ganesh Dutt, Vice Chairman, HIMUDA, Shri V.C.Pharka, Chairman, HP Board of School Education and Principal Secretary Horticulture, Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Principal Secretary, Education, Shri B.D. Sharma, Director of Information and Public Relations, Dr. O.P. Sharma, Director of Higher Education, other senior officers and executives of Amar Ujala were present on the occasion.