Women should be partners in law making: Kalam

Former president APJ Abdul Kalam today said at least 30% of women should be elected in Parliament, particularly in taking decision on framing laws.

"A minimum of 30% women should take up position in Parliament. They (should) make law and be partner in law making. That is the most crying need today," Kalam said in response to a query at the 'ThinkEdu Conclave' organised by 'The New Indian Express Group' here.

Observing that a gender breakthrough has taken place, he said, "Today, I find in many colleges, in many medical colleges, women dominate boys. Where we have problems is at (the) Parliament."

He said reforms were needed in the area of primary education. "What we need is that a creative class, a creative environment and a creative teacher. I am working for that. I have worked with some people in Singapore. The race for primary teacher is a precious race because they inject knowledge in children."

He appealed to the student community to take up research activities.

"If I have certain capacity. I will select (a minimum of) 50 universities and I will see the core competency of the university and empower the universities for research," he said.

Earlier, in his inaugural address, Kalam said, "A teacher has to be trained in a university environment and the potential teacher has to be taught by great teachers."

"Society has to respect the teachers, and honour great teachers. The teacher has to have capacity for lifelong learning," he said.