Frequent elections are the biggest hurdle for the education sector, former President Ram Nath Kovind said on Saturday, arguing that the continuous election cycle disrupts learning and governance. Kovind, who chaired the committee on One Nation One Election (ONOE), was speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the 75th-year celebrations of the Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate Board (HSNCB) in Mumbai.

“Our country follows a round-the-year election cycle. Every time an election is declared, the education sector suffers the most. Teachers, especially from government schools, are pulled up for election duties, which undermines overall learning outcomes. They rush through the syllabus, leading to complaints about out-of-syllabus questions," Kovind said, adding that frequent elections also impact governance due to the regular imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

He emphasised that implementing ONOE would bring stability. “Simultaneous elections will streamline governance, foster investor confidence, and reduce the financial burden on the country. The resources saved can be used for infrastructure and education sectors. Breaking frequent elections will help the nation," he asserted.

Kovind further highlighted the economic benefits of ONOE, citing a subcommittee of economists who estimated that “India's GDP would increase by 1 to 1.5% automatically” once the system is implemented. “The current system causes 16 months of disruption because of the MCC across four elections (Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, Local Bodies, and Panchayat elections) in five years. This means that instead of five years, the ruling party effectively governs for only 3.5 years," he noted.

The former President also underscored the transformative power of education, drawing from his personal experiences. "Education is the biggest tool of empowerment. It has the ability to change billions of lives. I can speak for myself—my life began in extreme poverty. There was only a primary school in my village, and I had to walk, sometimes run, barefoot for six kilometres to study. But education enabled me to transform my journey—from an advocate at the High Court to the Supreme Court, then to the governorship, and finally to the Presidency," he said.

Addressing students, he urged them to seize the opportunity to study at premier institutions. "You are lucky to be receiving quality education. You must utilise this opportunity to the fullest," he advised. He also stressed the role of educators, calling them "the true architects of the nation," and encouraged them to instil Indian ethos in students.

Kovind praised HSNCB for its contributions to the education sector, particularly the establishment of Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate University (HSNCU), India's first public cluster university set up by a charitable trust. "HSNCU nurtures over 50,000 students, which is a significant number," he remarked.

The event also saw reflections on HSNCB's journey and future aspirations. Trustee and Provost Anil Harish highlighted its expansion, stating, "We have 25 educational institutions, including schools and colleges across a vast spectrum. HSNCB was the first in India to receive approval to open a cluster university."

Trustee and President Niranjan Hiranandani described the board’s impact as "a journey of transformation and nation-building." He noted that HSNCU was the first university to launch online education during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and now offers 99 programmes across disciplines such as artificial intelligence, robotics, management, business, performing arts, yoga, and liberal arts. “We ensure students are industry-ready. Our vision for the future includes a School of Technology leading the way in AI and robotics, with collaborations with foreign institutions ensuring a global footprint,” he said.

Kovind also highlighted the significance of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “There was an urgent requirement to modify the education system. Rising to this challenge, the Government of India formulated the NEP during my presidency in 2020. The committee received over two lakh suggestions from across the country. Education is the most powerful tool to manifest Viksit Bharat by 2047," he said.