Bangalore-based Azim Premji University will start its first academic year from July this year. The varsity’s chief executive officer, Dileep Ranjekar completed the initial years of his schooling in Pune at the Gopal High School. A graduate in science, Ranjekar has done his post-graduate diploma in business management and masters in personnel management and industrial relations from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. He was in the city recently to deliver a lecture during the Vasant Vykhayanmala (spring lecture series). He shared his thoughts with DNA about the present education scenario and the aims of the Azim Premji University.
How do you view the present primary and higher education scenario in India?
The quality of primary and higher education in the country is pathetic. Students lack competency levels. The government should build quality institutes to improve education. Professionals and experts teaching the students should be moulded in a proper manner to teach ably. There is a school curriculum and workbook for the children, but there is also a need to have an educational policy on the use of technology in the schools.
What made the chairman of IT major Wipro Technologies, Azim Premji come up with the idea of setting up a university?
For a decade, the Azim Premji Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, has been contributing to changes in the Indian education system. Operational since 2001, the foundation is engaged with over 2.5 million children in 20,000 schools across 13 states through a committed workforce of over 250 professionals and hundreds of paid volunteers. A survey was conducted by the foundation, which revealed that there is a dire need for a varsity to groom quality teachers for better future of the students. It was at this juncture that the foundation took the decision to start a university.
Why is Azim Premji University focusing on teachers?
There are hundreds of institutes training teachers. But there are no professional experts to teach students. Recognising this need, the Wipro Technologies chairman came up with the idea of having a university, which will produce teachers, administrators, policy makers, leaders, thinkers and entrepreneurs rather than doctors, engineers and architects. This university will take care of every aspect of inclusive education while grooming teachers and educational experts.
What are the courses that the varsity would be offering?
There are three programmes —masters in education, which will focus on teaching in the schools. The second is the masters of arts (MA) in development which will focus on the mother and child. The aspects such as nutrition, sanitation, parents’ livelihood, governance in schools where development of the child is monitored would be covered. The third course is an MA in teachers’ education where social orientation, children communication will be looked into. We also have plans to open Azim Premji Learning Institutes in various states. Pune would be one of the districts.
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