Inaugurating the program, Mr AK Rath, Secretary School Education and Literacy in the Ministry of HRD, said Navodaya Vidyalayas being residential schools were playing a crucial role in building up childrenas personality. He congratulated the organization for providing quality education to the students, largely from the weaker sections of society. The latest statistics revealed that Navodaya students topped in ranks followed by other schoolsa. The government being aware of the significant role these Vidyalayas played in building and developing studentsa personality at a nascent stage, had therefore taken a decision to double their number to 1000 during the next five years.

Mr Rath confessed that being a fully residential series of programs, doubling Navodya Vidyalayas to 1000 posed a formidable financial challenge. The government therefore planned diverting major share to opening Navodaya schools out of Rs.200, 000 crore planned investment in this field during the next five years. There had also been huge private sector investments in education and this was realization of the role the sector played in the countryas development. He however, regretted that teaching profession in India was not much lucrative and therefore there was acute shortage of quality teachers. It has been planned to double the number of teachers during the next five years against the 50 lakhs at present. Inviting bright people to join the profession, he asked the participants to efficiently perform their role as education administrators and potential managers. He hoped the MDP conducted by MDI will help them perform their function skillfully and make them aware of the latest techniques of management and education administration.

MDI Director Prof CV Baxi welcoming the chief guest expressed concern over a crisis due to various reasons in organizations both public and private. He asked the participants to make full use of the course contents to help discharge better education administration.

According to Prof VK Gupta one of the program directors, MDI is among the few institutions in the country to have launched a management program for the Principals, Deans and Heads of Departments of engineering colleges and polytechnics. The participants also included NITs of Central and State governments besides private bodies and institutes of hotels management. During the last five years when this program was started, MDI has trained above 400 participants in 20 batches. Four more such programs starting next month have been planned during the current year.