Students should acquire knowledge to mould their character: SC Judge

Justice M.M. Sundresh emphasizes the importance of knowledge in shaping character and career success at VIT campus event.

Students should acquire knowledge to mould their character as it will provide them a positive attitude in excelling their career, said Justice M.M. Sundresh, Judge, Supreme Court, at VIT campus on Saturday.

Delivering his inaugural address on the University Day and the Annual Sports Day at the VIT campus, Justice Mr. Sundresh said that acquiring knowledge was a process of discovering one’s ignorance on various issues. “Ability lies with everyone as it is not attained by birth. Such ability is not restricted to education alone, but it is spread across various fields. Students should not get demotivated by failures as it provides them with valuable experiences to achieve their goals,” he said.

In his presidential address, G. Viswanathan, founder and chancellor, VIT, said that the Union government should increase the allocation of funds for education, which is under the Concurrent list, from the existing 3% of GDP to 6%, to enrol more rural students in higher education. “The Centre has allotted less than 2.5% for education in its budget for 2025-26. In other words, of the total ₹50 lakh crore budget funding, only ₹1 lakh crore has been allocated for education. It is insufficient,” he said.

The Chancellor said that inadequate allocation of funds on education by the governments at the Centre and State level has only increased the financial burden of parents, especially those who enrol their wards on private schools. On average, parents spend at least ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh on the school education every year. “As per estimates, India accounts for only 28% of youngsters enrolled in higher education against the world average of 40%. Tamil Nadu tops in higher education enrollment, followed by Kerala, and Bihar remains last in the list,” he said.

The Chancellor said that advanced countries such as the USA, Germany, France, U.K. and South Korea have 90%, 75%, 70%, 60% and 100% of Gross Enrolment Ratio respectively, whereas only 28% in India, which has 1,100 universities and 59,000 colleges enrolled in higher education. “In terms of per capita expenditure on higher education, the USA spends $ 35,000, China ($2,400) and India ($260) every year. Of 190 countries, India stands at 155 in terms of providing higher education,” he said.

On the occasion, R. Ganesan, head of Corporate Centre, Larsen and Toubro Limited, Sankar Viswanathan and Sekar Viswanathan, vice presidents of VIT, were present.