Mangalore : Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda has said that the state government was according top priority to higher education.

Speaking at the decennial fete of AJ  Institute of Medical Sciences and AJ Institute of Dental Sciences in the city on May 6, Sunday, the chief minister commended the commitment of the AJ Institutes to impart  education of the highest standards. He at the same time was highly appreciative of the quality education imparted by the educational institutions of the coastal districts which have helped them excel in academics and bring laurels to the district.

On the state government’s endeavour to do its best to the higher education sector, Sadananda Gowda said  a sum of Rs 15000 has been allocated for the education sector in the current budget.

‘Decennia,’ a souvenir brought out to commemorate the decennial fete was released by the CM on the occasion. AJ Shetty, Chairman of the Laxmi Memorial Education Trust, which runs the AJ Institutes,  delivered the presidential address.

B Janardhan Poojari, former union minister, Dr KS Sriprakash, Vice Chancellor of Rajeev Gandhi University of Health Sciences,  Yogish Bhat, Deputy Speaker,   Nalin Kumar Kateel , MP,  B Nagaraj Shetty, Coastal Development Authority Chairman were present as chief guests.

Dr M Ramesh Pai, Dean of AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, Prashanth Marla, Director and others were present on the occasion.

Students of the institute later entertained the audience with a variety of cultural programmes.