Washington, Oct 15 (PTI): US President Barack Obama has warned of an "education arms race" with India and China and said that any cut in the education budget as recommended by the Republicans would be detrimental to America's national interest.
"Nothing would be more shortsighted," Obama said in his Rose Garden at White House, in remarks to the press in reference to the Republican proposal to cut education budget.
"There's an educational arms race taking place around the world right now ?- from China to Germany, to India to South Korea. Cutting back on education would amount to unilateral disarmament. We can't afford to do that," he said.
The President said that the nation that educates its children the best would be the nation that leads the global economy in the 21st century
"Now, ultimately, this is not just about making our economy more competitive.