The ethos of the country should reflect in the curriculum and syllabus of educational institutions, Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said in Chennai on Monday (August 3, 2026).

Inaugurating a national conclave on ’The Role of Minority Educational Institutions in Unity, Cultural Diversity, and Nation Building: Viksit Bharat @ 2047’ at the B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology (BSACIST), Governor Arlekar noted that the ethos of the country should provide guidance behind curriculum and syllabus, which, he said, has to be discussed at length. “We all belong to this soil, this country, this culture. We are not aliens, we are not foreigners. Our education system will have to be conforming to that ethos, that thought process,” Mr. Arlekar added. He urged all educational institutions to produce “not job-seekers, but job-givers”, stressing on the importance of setting up entrepreneurship development cells.

In response, Abdul Qadir A. Rahman Buhari, pro-chancellor, BSACIST, said the institute has started an incubation centre seven years ago which incubates 158 startups at present, while 80 have graduated and moved out. They are valued at around ₹3,200 crore, generating over 1,000 jobs and have raised ₹480 crore in equity, debt, and grant. At the Crescent Institute, an entrepreneurial course will be introduced for all 11,500 students with the objective of converting one percent of students as entrepreneurs. Besides, the institute was also introducing AI in all courses, including pharma, architecture, and law, Mr. Qadir added.

Shahid Akhter, Member, National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, said in its adjudicatory role, the NCMEI has granted minority educational institution status to 14,364 institutions, out of which, 1,175 were in Tamil Nadu. Quoting data collected from assorted sources, including the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, he said that over 68% students studying in minority institutions belonged to other communities.

Indresh Kumar, margdarshak, Muslim Rashtriya Manch, P.C.R. Suresh, director, Madras Christian College, A. Peer Mohamed, vice chancellor, Crescent Institution, B. Raja Hussain, registrar, and Ayub Khan Dawood, dean, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, also spoke.

Published - August 03, 2026 03:30 pm IST