Agartala, Mar 13 (IANS): Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Tuesday underlined the need to improve the quality of education by following the model of the ancient Nalanda University.

"The educational pattern of ancient Nalanda University must be followed to improve the quality of education. Quality of education is the need of the hour," Deb said after inaugurating a 30-day faculty induction training programme organised by the Faculty Development Centre of Tripura University.

He said: "Israel is a small nation. But due to its technical and non-technical knowledge this tiny country is well acknowledged by the entire world. Tripura might be a small state, but if we become a model in education and knowledge the other parts of the world would give us due importance."

The training programme was undertaken under the scheme of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching scheme.

The Department of Higher Education had launched the ambitious scheme in March 2015 with a budget of Rs 900 crore for the 12th Plan period.

The Tripura University is the first varsity in the entire northeastern region to implement the mission.

"To make the Tripura University one of the best educational institutions, the state government is ready to do whatever is needed. It is keen to see the university produce best students for the welfare of the society and the country," the Chief Minister added.

Tripura University Vice-Chancellor Anjan Kumar Ghosh said in many countries such teachers and teaching scheme does not exist.

"To improve the quality of teaching, the new scheme would be a great instrument," the Vice-Chancellor added.

The University Registrar Sanit Deb Roy also spoke in the function.

The scheme's goals included setting up, among other things, 30 schools, five centres of excellence for curriculum and pedagogy, two Inter-University Centres for Teacher Education, 25 teaching learning centres and five centres of excellence in science and mathematics.