As I was listening to the 6.40 a.m. ITN World News programme by Mr. Lalith Silva the other day. It is an interesting and informative programme for educated listeners who would like to know what is happening in other parts of the world. He read out an interesting news item, I think from an international magazine, which said that 35% of the population in India are illiterate and that about 50% of the children do not attend school. Of those attending school, 50% drop out of school when they are about eleven years or so.

Mr Silva reported that the government of India was bringing forward a Bill in Parliament to compel all private schools in the country to educate 25% of their students free of charge. It was also mentioned that if these Colleges do not fall in line with the government policy, their Licences would be cancelled.

This would be a novel idea to be considered by the President. The percentage of free admission to be laid down for these private schools can be a lower unlike in India.