Declining reading habit a cause for concern: Prof

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 14

“Declining reading habit amongst the younger generations of today is a cause of concern for all stakeholders, be it society at large or parents or the teachers,” said Prof Balwinder Singh, Director of the Centre for Data Analytics and Research and professor of the University School of Financial Studies of the University, while delivering an inaugural address of the three-week orientation programme at Guru Nanak Dev University.

The programme is being organised by the Human Resource Development Centre. A total of 23 teachers of higher education from Punjab and other neighbouring states are participating. Attributing the malaise to advancements in the domain of Information Technology, he emphasised re-inculcating the habit of reading as it served as food for soul, just like the food for physical body.

“Blind commodification and commercialisation of education is also one of the decisive factors, which is causing a fall in the standard of education in the country,” he said. Exhorting the audience not to be slaves of technology, he said the technology should be optimally utilised to derive maximum benefit.

Director Adarsh Pal Vig urged the participants to make virtue out of the necessity and to attend such programmes not only for the furtherance of their professional careers, but to augment their existing expertise and competence as well. He also apprised the participants of the accomplishments of the university in its short span of 50 years.