IN Kashmir, Engineering continues to be one of the most sought after degrees. Every year, lakhs of students appear in the entrance examination for institutions like the IITs and the NITs but only a few of them manage to clear it. Those of the students who do not manage to clear these examinations, either drop another year for yet another shot or they knock the doors of private colleges.
While everyone is busy in the race to secure an admission, rarely anyone stops to gauge the merits of an Engineering degree in India. According to the data by HRD Ministry, about 1.5 million students graduate with an engineering degree every year. Out of these million, only about 20% find employment in their core domains. Over the years, many other surveys have reiterated the lack of employability of Engineer graduates from India. A study carried out by Aspiring Minds had revealed jaw dropping figures which claimed that 95% of Engineering graduates from India were not fit for employment especially in software development jobs. The same data has been authenticated number of times by leading employers especially the MNCs.
It is the lack of skills from graduate engineers which has led to their unemployment. How can an obsolete syllabus equip graduates with the skills to work in a rapidly transforming technological world? Theories with little attention to innovation and application can do little to teach someone the necessary skills to cater to the needs of an employer and their clients.
In Kashmir, the situation is even direr. There aren’t many avenues for employment for engineering graduates which has forced many to work as private teachers, bank employees or lecturers in the same college or university were they’d studied.
Recently, the government abolished the self-help group of engineers which has left thousands jobless. Instead of generating jobs, the government is taking them away.
The only saving grace for this profession can now come from an up gradation of the syllabus to meet new market needs. The government should also announce new schemes and release new posts. It should be a matter of pride for us to have many aiming to pursue engineering degrees. However, it has only brought us shame because of the subpar education system and limited avenues for employment.
Gowharr Fayaz Bhat
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
