 BIKRAM RAI |
Is education about gaining knowledge or is it simply about earning a degree? Based on their own experiences, parents expect their children to gain the practical know-how that would secure their children a decent living and prepare them for life's situations.
But a growing number of unemployed graduates indicates failure in the education system. Thousands of educated youth have been forced to seek semi-skilled or unskilled jobs abroad because their certificates and degrees are deemed worthless. Besides lagging behind in technical education, most schools fail to teach basic skills and etiquette such as applying first aid to an injured person, maintaining clean public spaces or abiding by traffic rules. Our education system has failed to teach our children the value of labor and instead has contributed to the misconception that only desk jobs are respectable. Often, children are ashamed of the work their parents do, especially if it involves manual labor.
Schools need to reorganise and revise their curriculum in a way that will allow students to learn beyond the textbooks. But it is also up to teachers to impart useful skills through innovative instruction. This will not only bring about positive change in their lives but also contribute to building an empowered society in the long run.
