New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS): The government is committed to promoting the use and advancement of technology for the development of the country, said union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla.

Inaugurating a two-day international education conference on “Learning Technologies in Education” at Jamia Milia Islamia Tuesday, Heptulla observed that the nation, since independence, has continued to grapple with challenges in respect of access, equity and quality.

The new learning technologies could be harnessed to promote education for the development of the country, noted the union minister.

In his keynote address, Mohammad Miyan, vice chancellor of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, highlighted the significance of new technologies in education and said the available technological platforms needed to be suitably exploited in schools -- both government and private.

Talat Ahmad, Jamia Millia Islamia vice chancellor, impressed upon the students and faculty to use technology in their pursuit of excellence.

He observed that any technological environment for education was an empowering experience as it allowed all stakeholders to enrich their learning and delivery processes.