Abstract
Education in astronomy starts early in India. Science texts at prim.my, middle and secondary levels have units on astronomy. However, these units are generally skipped
because the schools lack appropriate manpower and material. Very few universities have courses in astronomy at undergraduate/postgraduate levels. If they exist at all, they are of theoretical nature. If students could be trained in observational astronomy, they could provide the manpower required for school and higher education as well as for observatories and other institutions on which the nation is pledging scarce resources. A concerted program for education in astronomy involving all institutions engaged in research and teaching of astronomy is therefore needed. I discuss a plan which could make astronomy education in universities and colleges more meaningful, so that the twin objectives outlined above could be met. The proposal could interest
other developing countries interested in the development in astronomy education.
