Central and State governments should spend more funds on education, says VIT chancellor

Director of School Education Department S. Kannappan, VIT Chancellor G. Viswanathan and Vellore Collector V. R. Subbulaxmi during the discussion held on VIT campus in Vellore. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Governments at the Centre and in the State should spend more on education, especially in higher education, for better infrastructure in educational campuses and encourage economically weak students to pursue studies through scholarships, said G. Viswanathan, founder chancellor, Vellore Institute of Technology.

In his presidential address during a discussion on ‘Empowering Government School Students for Academic Excellence’ in Vellore, Mr. Viswanathan said that despite the National Education Policy 2020 aiming to increase the government spending on education to 50% of the GDP by 2035, in the 2025-26 financial budget, spending on education by the Centre is less than three percent.

“Cuba spends 11.5% of its GDP on education, securing the top position among countries spending on education whereas India ranks 155th. Government spending on education should be increased,” he said.

The Chancellor added that the North Arcot district, which comprised the present-day Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai districts, used to be economically and educationally backward many years ago. Public initiatives like scholarships and efforts of the State government have helped reduce this backwardness and increase students’ enrolment in schools and colleges.

Currently, the gross enrolment Ratio (GER) of Tamil Nadu is over 50% as against the national average of 28%.

The discussion, jointly organised by VIT and the Directorate of School Education, was conducted to address the challenges faced in Class 12. On the occasion, S. Kannappan, Director, School Education Department, and V. R. Subbulaxmi, Vellore Collector, also spoke.

Published - June 16, 2025 12:20 am IST