HYDERABAD, Feb 24: University degrees without real education and knowledge are not worth even the paper they are printed on.

This was said by the Vice-Chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University, Professor (Dr) Syed Altaf Hussain, at a news conference at a local hotel on the eve of the university convocation on Monday.

Prof Hussain, expressing dissatisfaction over the standard of education in the country, said that tall claims were made in the five-year plan about increasing literacy rate to 58 per cent but the target was not achieved.

He said that five per cent of teachers of universities were retiring every year and wondered how the gap would be fulfilled.

He said that by 2010, population of young people between the age of 17 and 23 years would increase to 25 million and then the open university would be faced with a gigantic task.

He said that the concept of open universities was not a new one and added that in the Commonwealth countries, 60 open universities were working.

He said that due to population explosion, there was no other way to educate scattered population except the establishment of open universities.

The VC dispelled the impression that the standard of education of AIOU was not up to the mark. He pointed out that his university was utilizing the services of 32,000 retired professors.