‘The public private partnership model can be effectively developed’
says Manohar Chellani, Secreatry General, EPSI
........................................................................................................................................................................

Education Promotion Society for India was formed on 4th April, 2005, pursuing directional growth of Education Sector post WTO freedom and the fast changing knowledge based Society, whereby even economic progress of the country is strongly linked with quality of education.

It shall facilitate Academia, Industry and the Government as a catalyst nodal agency of the country for promotion of Education, covering all fields of education i.e. School Education, Higher Education, Vocational Education, Professional Education (including Engineering, Medicine, Management, Architecture, Law, etc).
The importance of Education in the civilized society needs no justification as it always has been close to our heart. The early years of 21st Century are witnessing the emergence of knowledge based society and quality education has become critical and necessary in the post WTO scenario. The country has witnessed phenomenal educational development - both in quantitative and qualitative terms, since independence. The country has also made significant strides in Higher and Technical Education.

Although there has been a considerable increase in the spread of educational institutions still only 10% of the students are able to complete School Education against 85% in the developed countries in the age group of 6-14 years and only 6-7% have access to Higher Education against 50-80% in the developed countries in the age group 16-23 years, which is just one eighth and one sixth of the developed countries respectively.

The literacy rates have definitely increased substantially but lot needs to be done to reach the planned 100% literacy. The national goals Universal elementary education and total eradication of illiteracy have still remained illusive. The Government has been steadily increasing the Budgetary allocation for education to 4.2 percent of its GDP on education, but 35.2 percent children and about 44 percent of its adult population still remains to be made literate.

The challenge is mammoth and the responsibility should be shared with the Government to achieve the planned targets. It is in fitness of things that Industry and the Institutions come forward to support the Government for discharging the Constitutional and Social obligations.

The public private partnership model could be effectively developed by allowing greater participation of private sector, NGOs, industry etc., by facilitating incentives for achieving the planned target. The challenging environment, enhanced expectations and better co-ordination between the regulator, operator and acceptor could be synergized for greater employment opportunities and literacy results. And to this end, our education system must have a lively interaction, even if it is on business principles.

Unfortunately, we have no agency on behalf of the academic world for industry interface discussing promotional issues with the statutory bodies and the Governments.

In the present circumstances, it was the need of hour to facilitate the Academia, the Industry and the Government to sit across the table and take up the matter in its right perspective to face challenges from within and abroad. It is with this objective EPSI has been formed. EPSI would bridge these requirements by duly focusing on Education Sector alone and positioning itself as a catalyst platform i.e. Education Promotion Organisation.


Some of the focus areas for this agency are:

	Quality Education with Industry Interface.
	Setting standards of Quality for Education.
	Exploring globalization opportunities emerging abroad and within the country.
	Effective co-ordination with Regulator for employment oriented academic programmes.
	Accreditation.

EPSI invites Educational Institutions, Industry, Individuals, Society at large for extending their support and joining us in this National cause for meeting the challenges of the 21st Century.