Despite the efforts of various agencies of the state and central government bodies, open universities and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India is facing challenges in the field of education at various levels. “Indeed, the ultimate challenge of education is useful strong nation of one billion on an ongoing basis. A brief overview of these challenges, distance education scenario in the country, resources Crunch, etc., which are to the extent possible long-term strategies for education in the country, “says Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Chairman of ISRO.

It was the provision of the 7th Annual Meeting Pr G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture, organized by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning here this week.

The India hosts the one and the largest population of illiterates in the world. According to the 2001 census, there are 302 million Indians over the age of six are illiterate. Female illiteracy is higher than the 45.8 percent of rural and illiteracy is about 43 percent, he said.

“While the figures appear in the expansion itself is the challenges of quality education, the massive development of knowledge and information base led to rapidly changing needs and requirements. Regardless of that, at any level they teach all teachers must be fully equipped with rigorous intellectual and other qualities and worth of their own culture and to help learners, different events going on around them, “said Kasturirangan.

Higher education faces, other constraints such as lack of scientific equipment latest up-to-date libraries and research institutes. It is a non-availability of latest information, data, teaching techniques and the inability to interact with peers, scholars and experts, he said.

Given the challenges facing the country in education and in view of the possible use of Satcom support to education, is now also thought of launching a satellite to devote to meet the needs of the sector of Education.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is setting up a contemplation of satellites dedicated to education called `Edusat” in the near future, “he said.