12th class is make or break for a middle class family, or is it? It is a travesty that has plagued the Indian Education system, wherein a child is put through a very stressful two-three years while still in his/her teens. He is told in no uncertain terms that these years will decide your future. High school is the stepping stone for higher education, unlike in Western countries where not every High school pass out opts for under graduate courses, in India it is typical bhed chaal(like sheep) people just move from high school to college and then follow it with post graduation. Primarily because unlike school education, which is a costly affair in private schools, Govt colleges are more or less free. Although there is very little value addition from school to college graduates but then, for want of nothing better to pursue, that is the natural course. The actual issue is the disdain for blue collar workers, everyone aspires to be a babu, a respected white collar type, even if it is a mere clerical job, which is neither challenging nor paying. Unless this pathological dislike for menial work is removed from the deep recess of our collective mindset, we will continue to breed unemployable clerks whose only aspiration is a govt job where they have a typical 9 to 5 job and an opportunity for some additional income. Obviously Govt can only employ a finite number of individuals, the rest are left twiddling their thumbs, a drain on the family, too qualified for any kind of skilled work and useless to the industry. the demographic dividend are the demographic duds in reality.
We have often heard or read about the malaise, but where is the solution, Agniveer, although I have my serious reservations about the scheme, will only cater for a mere 45000 youths per year, what about the balance? Are apps like Urban Clap, which provide a platform for the skilled workers, the only way ? In India as they say the brightest lot study hard and qualify in competitive exams and become doctors engineers, the mediocre ones study management and control the former, the barely pass types join politics and control both and the failures join the underworld control all three and ones who chose to give formal education a go by become mendicants. Path towards success does not necessarily follow the same route as taken by the brightest minds. Incidentally, even the evaluation criteria for intelligence is skewed in favour of the ones with good memory rather than the ones for problem solving. We know of many such cases where an illiterate person is a successful political leader or a businessperson, Kamraj the 60s Congress politician was one such case, and so was Giani Zail Singh, former President of India, who incidentally signed our parchments for commissioning in 1987.
The age old adage in India was, “Padhoge likhoge banoge nawab, kheloge kudoge howge kharab” (If you study you will be a Nawab, if you indulge in games you will be ruined). Of late, though there are many sportspersons who have not just become rich but actually Nawabs, especially if you succeed in Cricket, though these days other games like Badminton, Kabaddi etc are also raking in the moolah with the Premier Leagues. Then there is the MBA Chai wala, I am sure some of us have heard about through social media. Mr Prafull Billore who could not pursue his MBA decided to set up a chain of Tea vends and has become a very successful entrepreneur so has the man behind the Oyo Hotels, Mr Ritesh Agrawal. These guys were not brilliant by our exacting standards and benchmarks of IIT/IIM but have proved to be highly successful individuals.
Yes not everyone can be as successful as Mr Billore or Mr Agrawal but being an entrepreneur itself is a very creditable achievement. As you not only drive the economy by providing employment to many but also perform a huge social service by weaning the youth away from loitering aimlessly and providing them a platform for their own growth and wellbeing as also their families.
Its high time parents start to let the kids explore their own talents and chart their course, lest kids revert to the pink Floyd anthem of the 70s “We don’t need no education..”
Published in Free Press Journal on 09 Apr 23, link shared
https://epaper.freepressjournal.in/Home/Mindex?eid=2&edate=09/04/2023&pgid=13765&sedId=0&uemail=
Original Comments:
Anonymous (2023-04-09):
It's very difficult to change the mindset in a society where roti, kapda aur makaan can't be taken for granted. You have echoed the theme of the movie "3 idiots" so well.
AK Tewari (2023-04-09):
Beautiful summary of the subject.
Pink Floyd was actually mirroring every "captive" student's suffering…
Anonymous (2023-04-09):
More importantly……we don't need no thought control. Lovely piece Sir.
Danny (2023-04-09):
A counterpoint: the current generation has opportunities aplenty: you could (and people do) pursue a very sharply focused field and make a name for yourself. As a doctor you could be a specialist in forensic psychiatry or even sleep, as an computer engineer, in game design (the dream job for most teenagers), as a sociologist in social network analysis. The challenge is to recognise your calling, to know what you are innately skilled for. The world is a lot more of oysters!
Sudhir (2023-04-09):
Char Ahuja (2023-04-09):
That's why in the current scenario education system is undergoing a sea change.. NEP 2020 and NCF are striving hard to hone the skills of the students. The new 5+3+3+4 formula looks promising. But changes take time. Hope the next few generations would benefit and be more productive
nitin (2023-04-09):
A quote often attributed to Mark Twain captures your thoughts Suyash. He said "Never let school interfere with your education"…. More so required in today's environment……
.
Karthik Iyer (2023-04-09):
An Aptly timed read for self & better half.Thank You sir
Anonymous (2023-04-09):
our system judges a child by academic grades only…
Narayani Karthik (2023-04-09):
This is one of those pieces that hits the nail right on the head. A wonderful read as always! Thank you for sharing, Brig Suyesh.
Jitendra Singh (2023-04-09):
Nicely brought out the pitfalls of our education sys, Suyash. It is struggle for survival for middle class parents and students.
Sofie (2023-04-09):
At the outset, its great to see you post one of your articles published in ghe Papers! Kudos!!
The subject itself calls for serious consideration by India's polucy makers and also her citizenry. Problem solving and creative thinking must attract the focal attention of education, vis a vis reproductuon by rote.
Rk (2023-04-09):
Anonymous (2023-04-09):
Nice one sir
Sanjay Bose (2023-04-09):
Absolutely! Bang on!
Brig Vinod tandon (2023-04-09):
Serious issue touched remarkably well
Vicky Bisht (2023-04-09):
With so many opportunities now,the saying "Padoge…..nawab" may not be true.If the youngester is talented,there are many avenues to be successful in life.Once again a nice article Suyash.
Anonymous (2023-04-10):
But it is a must…Well written boss !!
James (2023-04-10):
Well brought out Faux pax
Anonymous (2023-04-10):
……..in our educational system and it’s merits. As Parents we need to adapt and change our expectations from the next generation. Great thoughts Suyash.
Vipul Segan (2023-04-13):
Well written
Times are changing and so is the mindset