Hyderabad, Feb 1 (IANS): Union Human Resource Development Minister Pallam Raju Saturday called for a national effort to build world-class education eco-system that fosters leadership

Addressing the annual leadership symposium organised by the Indus International School here, he said schools at all levels must enlighten the students of the challenges ahead. He also stressed the need for a good value system.

Raju called for special efforts to develop, among students, skills required for the industry.

He said National Skill Development Corporation would make efforts to create a workforce empowered with upgraded skills, knowledge and internationally recognized qualifications.

The minister said the government would continue to encourage schools and other institutions to collaborate with each other to realize national education vision.

The speakers at the symposium voiced concern that in the private sector, only about 25 percent technical and management graduates are employable by MNCs and premier corporations.

Lt.Gen. (retd.) Arjun Ray, CEO of Indus Trust said a failed school education policy over decades was primarily responsible for retarding India's development and modernization.

He said future competition would be between competing education systems. "In this fierce struggle, schools are the battlegrounds where we have been failing systematically," he said.

Lt. Gen. Ray also announced a cash award for the most innovative 'Citizen Idea' award to redress leadership crisis for schools.

Justice B Subhashan Reddy, the state Lokayukta, V. Raghunathan, CEO, GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, Kiran Mirchandani, professor, Adult Education and Community Development Program, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, and Jayaprakash Narayan participated in the panel discussion.