Author: Banwari L Dhandhania, Engineer (IIT, Kharagpur), 40 yrs work experience
As per a report 5.3 lacs students compete for admission to IITs/IIMs. Total number of seats available in these institutions are only 4700 which is only 0.89 % of seats available.
A candidate spends an estimated amount of Rs. 10000/- . It may be more but let us take an conservative figure. Thus Rs.530 crores are spent in the admission process.
This amount consists of
1 Application money
2 Study material
3 Coaching fees
4 Traveling expenditure
5 Other expenses
Besides monetary part, this also causes a lot of frustration amid the parents and candidates. One spends a lot time and effort in preparing for the various types of tests for the admission. As one is not sure of the admission, one tries at multiple places and for years. My own relatives have gone through this exercise and several more are still under going. I came across one candidate who was desperately trying to secure un some management institute by spending few lacs of rupees.
Can this be stopped ? Our academicians have to think in this line. But one thing is sure. If this huge amount of money is invested in some productive / social , our country can progress by leaps and bounds. It not the money part only but also the energy wasted in the effort.
I do not know how many of seen the papers for such tests. I had a chance of going through study material for CAT tests. And believe me that without specific preparation for CAT without coaching classes , one may not score even 25% marks.
I hope that most of us must have seen at least few episodes of SRK’s “kya ap panchvi …” This serial brings a lot of thinking about the type of education that we all go thorough.
I wonder what percentage of education imparted is really useful in practical life. At least I can say only a negligible fraction is used in real life. The higher you go in the pyramid, the less you use your education. Definitely the education broadens your general knowledge.
Take for example, a mechanical engineer is taught subjects like steam engine, aerodynes. Organic chemistry etc etc. but if he is engaged in a manufacturing industry, hr has to do the work of a qualified pusher. He follows up the shortages, production schedule and meets production targets. Here all the strength of material, aerodynamics and many other subjects are just forgotten.
So is the case with primary, secondary education? The SRK’s programme has amply proved that. Even the highly qualified and well placed participants could not reply few simple questions.
Why is it so?
The basic reason is the type of education imparted to all of us starting from lower KG to highest education. We are still teaching ourselves the subjects which have no relevance in the real life. To an average Indian child “Jack & Jill” or “Humpty Dumpy” has no meaning. A child will love some Indian song much more than the ones being taught today. A song like “Chug Chug karti Aai Gadi” or so will be more amusing to a child.
So is the matter with Language subjects. Questions are asked as such “who said to whom” or “fill in the blanks “from a particular text. The child has to mug up all the future irrelevant things and forget after the examinations are over.
No body learns a language by studying grammar but one learns merely by speaking. A child starts speaking his mother tongue by listening and speaking. I do not mean that do not teach grammar at all but just teach at macro level and not micro level. There is no point straining one at examination by question which are of no use in future life.
After graduating in Engineering or Management course, one is appointed in an organization and there he is to follow the work practice. I had done many in house training courses. As far as implementing them , practically non could be done. In an organisation, you are supposed to follow the directives from the top despite your liking or not. I remember while reporting some figures, the boss asked to change scale of the graph to his benefit.
Computer education is a must for all of us but what is the use of mugging the definition of “Space Bar on key board” in history , the student is supposed to remember the dates of wars, birth days, period of rule etc for the purpose of examination. Once the exams are over, so are the dates etc. we should stress on things that are of use in long run. Other things may be taught for the information but should not be put in examination.
Before making any comments about the article, I want to emphasize that I am a graduate engineer from one of the top ranking institutes in India and having an experience of over 40 years. As such, the views expressed by me are based on practical experience and not only theoretical.
