PM expresses concern over for-profit education limiting access to knowledge

Expressing concern over the growing number of for-profit private educational institutions, prime minister Manmohan Singh yesterday said the trend could see private institutions emerge as a "worrisome barrier" to freer access to knowledge.

"Indeed with the growing share of privately funded for- profit educational institutions, this may be emerging as a worrisome barrier to freer access to knowledge for all our people," he said giving away Infosys Science Foundation awards in Bangalore (See: Infosys honours six eminent Indian researchers)

He added while the feudal restrictions had ceased to be a social barrier to access to knowledge, the ancient barrier of economic capacity still prevailed.

According to the prime minister, the initiative of the UPA government on Right to Education Act was "really special". He added the responsibility for the creation of a wider talent and knowledge base was that of the government.

"That is why we were very keen that we recognise the Right to Education as a fundamental right", he said.

Singh said his government accorded great importance to scholarship for which it had taken several initiatives especially in the area of funding.