Former President APJ Abdul Kalam speaking at the 3rd Malti Gyan Peeth Puraskar-2015 to Punjabs teachers in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI)

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam today advocated a "complete" change of the higher education framework in the country and stressed on skill development to come up with a workforce to meet future challenges.Speaking on the occassion of the third Malti Gyan Peeth Puraskar in New Delhi, Dr Kalam suggested that students in schools and colleges be handed over "skill certificates" apart from the conventional degrees."In decades time, India will need 300 to 500 million employable skilled youth and there is a need to completely change the university education syllabus and secondary school education syllabus," he said.Dr Kalam also known as the 'Missile Man' for his contribution to Indian Guided Missile Development programme further said, "Two certificates should be given to students. In schools, one skill certificate and one education certificate and in college, degree and diploma on the expertise acquired. In schools from class 9 to 12, 25 per cent of the time has to be alloted for skill development programme".Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were also present in the event in which 15 teachers from different government schools of Punjab were awarded.