The fourth edition of “Difficult Dialogues”, an annual forum to examine critical issues of South Asia, kicked off at Goa University near here on Thursday.
Speaking at a session on “Educating Minds – Changing Mindsets”, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said the budget allocation on education has declined.
“Three ‘A’s of education are affordability, accessibility and availability. The government of India needs to wake up and realise that true progress lies in investing in education, not arms,” she said adding, “One student commits suicide per hour in India. The terror of exams is very real.”
Author Deepa Narayan, said, “When you think about school, what emotion comes up? I’ve posed this question to people and they don’t have a positive response.”