'Little sister had family reasons to skip the event'

Prakash Javadekar explains Smriti Irani's absence from the event where he took charge as the new HRD minister

New Delhi: The prime challenge that the education sector faces in the country is raising the quality of education and ensuring it reaches all, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, who took charge, said yesterday.

Prakash Javadekar after taking the charge as the new HRD minister at his office in New Delhi yesterday. pic/pti

“The major challenge that is there in the education sector is to raise the standard. Quality education is vital as it lays the foundation for life and builds overall personality,” he told reporters after taking over.

His predecessor Smriti Irani, who has now been given the charge of Textiles Ministry, did not turn up for the event.

Javadekar said Irani could not join the because of ‘family reasons’. He had yesterday met Irani, whom he had described as his ‘little sister’ and said he would carry on with the ‘good initiatives’ taken by her.

“The sole purpose of education is not just employment, which is a ‘byproduct’. The aim of education is to lay the foundation for life on the basis of which societies are created. It is the duty of the education sector and we accept this challenge. Our mission will be to ensure quality education reaches all,” he said.

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