Education and Employment

We often complain that education has become examination oriented. This is because our assessment system heavily relies on the marks obtained in examination. Naturally, the students are motivated to focus only on  scope of syllabus and acquiring skill to answer the questions rather than real understanding of the subject.  Emphasis on objective type questions has   made the situation more easy as students  have to  remember correct options to likely questions. This has given rise to development guides  and solution sets. 

It is quite likely that students who have learned the subject properly, had done wide reading and have understood the importance of that information may fall back in merit list due to lack memorization drills  necessary to excel in examination. Creativity and innovation should be the outcome gaining knowledge, but unfortunately, they do not have any place in present assessment system.

We have forgotten the main objective of education which emphasizes learning, understanding and use of knowledge in real life.  Formal education is a way to transfer knowledge systematically with a planned time schedule and deserves higher place than informal education. However,  the examination criteria for assessment of acquired knowledge gave rise to  adoption of shortcut methods for success and recognition of expertise.

Have you observed how a child learns to speak and walk. It is through observation and experience. Observation needs focused attention and experience involves trials with many failures. The reward is capability of doing desired thing. Once such knowledge is acquired, it does not need to remember it. It just becomes  a natural gift.Compare also the skills we attain through observation, study and experience in  life with that of formal degree education.Writers, painters, craftsmen, social workers and various artisans learn their skills without formal education and stamping of degrees.

In ancient times, education was in the form of guided self study where students stayed in the forest with Guru (Gurukul). The test of their acquired knowledge was their capability in actual life.

Informal education needs self determination, urge, sacrifice and dedication. Examination is just test of memorised information, which has no value in today's life where information is available with a click and in life it is open book application.

Excessive importance to degree certificates has led to transformation  of education system into money making business with degree as a commodity for sale and purchase. Attractive infrastructure, comfort facilities, high cultural standards have become credit points of institutes.

The knowledge transfer process has undergone sea change in the modality. Now teaching learning process through internet has become so easy and accessible to anybody that old rigid concepts of physical presence in the complex and attendance to  classrooms  has become redundant. Geographical locations of teacher and students have lost its relevance.  Students can learn from their home town. The compartmentalization of departments has created boundaries between subject groups restricting the students from studying subjects of their choice. The students can choose any subject they like. They can learn at their own pace and convenience. Present distance education systems provide such freedom but still insist on examination   and demand memorization. 

  The present huge and costly infrastructures in educational institutes, elaborate examination systems in universities have created standard knowledge measurable facilities  (certificates and degrees) for business employers for selection of eligible candidates.

This is acceptable when there is shortage of skilled manpower and businesses have to compete with each other for good candidates. However,  when the economy is in the low tide and unemployment is very high,  mere degree certificates  do not any value in employment market. Real knowledge, experience and capability can only provide chance for employment with option of self employment.

Under this scenario, what should be role of educational institutes, who have developed themselves in huge empires? 100% employment should be the objective of such institutes. Institute need not worry about those who get good job through campus recruitment, or start their own business or opt for further studies. Those who are left out are the students who need help from the institutes where they learned by paying hefty fees. They must be supported by institute till the time they get suitably placed in their life.

 Teachers should act as facilitators and provide guidance to students when they need it. Rest of the time they should prepare good learning material in the subject to assist self study. This will help all students who are not attached to the particular institute. The present system of publishing blogs, online tutorials and forums  have already developed a global learning community. Khan Academy, video lectures by IIT professors have shown a way of future teaching-learning  process.

The private educational  institutes should help their unemployed students by providing assets for their self employment. After all it is their product. They can't leave it in market with no takers. If product is defective, it is the responsibility of manufacturer to correct it and improve its utility. The same is applicable to students passing out. Their placement is the responsibility of institutes. They can have tie-up with financial organisations for necessary stipend to these students and should provide environment to sustain during their unemployeed status. Just as platforms provides space for passengers to wait for the train, they should support them.

Horward University  has shown a way in this direction. The university becomes partner to students who wish to start their business. It provides free access to computer labs, laboratories and library and even shares capital investment needed.

In Maharashtra, great visionary, late Shri. Bhaurao Patil had started Earn and Learn scheme in Rayat Shikshan Sanstha. Many   poor students coming from rural area took advantage of the scheme.  I was fortunate to witness this scheme implemented in Shivaji College at Satara where I did my Pre Degree .

 Government also should come forward for enforcing some restrictions on private colleges  to take parentship of students leaving the college after course completion till they find suitable employment.

This not only will reduce present unemployment problem, but would be beneficial to colleges to attract more students who have vacant seats problem.

Whatever I have written about education  in the above paragraphs is more applicable to professional colleges, where the degree and merit  is of supreme importance for good job. However, many of the aspects would apply for all higher education systems.