Recently I received my Ph.D. degree in convocation
ceremony. But I could not feel any kind of emotion while I was on the stage
receiving the degree certificate. The act lasted just for a moment and it was nothing
closer to what I dreamed for years. Obviously the congratulatory messages from
the family and friends later on helped to sink in the special feeling of big achievement.
On this occasion, I could not help but wonder that I
had spent almost 27 years (from age 3 to 30) receiving formal education in
institutional settings ranging from schools, college and later on university. I
had spent a major part of my life pursuing my education. But this brings us to the
question - what is the purpose of education in an individual’s life? Why spend
so much time on something? A question I was asked many times by my friends and
relatives during my Ph.D. years was that “how long will you keep studying?” If
only I had a definite answer to that.
Therefore in this blog, I attempt to enlist the
purposes or final outcomes of education as understood in our society.
The first purpose of education as we listen growing up
is to secure a job in our competitive world. This is to ensure that we become a
functional part of this capitalist economic system. The most famous saying I
heard during childhood is “padhoge
likhoge banoge nawaab, kheloge kudooge hoge kharab” (meaning you will
prosper if you study but you will be spoilt if you waste your time playing). Students
are advised to pursue certain kind of courses which are in high demand in
market to ensure their employability. I had seen some of my friends going for a
MBA degree from IIMs after doing B.Tech. from IITs just to fit in the profile of
a suitable candidate for marketplace. So the main purpose of education as
understood generally is to get an employment and if you fail to get one then
your education is waste. But if we look around the scenario is that even Ph.D.s
cannot find the well deserving jobs (in terms of their qualification). The sad
reality is that many Ph.D. apply for a government job of Class IV employee. This is
not to undermine any job but to depict the sorry state of affairs in our
country when our education system and employment opportunities are not in sync.
The second purpose of education is believed to get a
decent rishta or matrimonial alliance
(marital offer in case of arrange marriage set up). Obviously no one (girl/boy)
would prefer to marry an illiterate person. Boys are encouraged to study so
that they secure a job as soon as possible as it is a primary condition to
fulfill in order to get married. One of my friend (man) wished to get married
since his graduation days but his wish still remain unfulfilled as he could not get
a decent job. It is considered necessary for men to be able to become financially
sufficient before getting married.
But in case of
girls this focus on education for marriage purpose becomes paradoxical as they are
encouraged to get just a graduation or at most post-graduation degree in order
to become eligible for matrimony. Higher education for girls beyond this is
frowned upon as families find it difficult to find suitable grooms who are
equally educated as their daughters. Women pursuing or completed higher
education are seen as too much "opiniated" and "career oriented". So education up to
a certain level is encouraged but beyond that it becomes a abomination.
From above discussion we see that purpose of education is often linked or associated with an individual’s job and marriage prospects. But is this the only purpose of education in our lives? The main purpose of education is to develop the ability of critical thinking in my viewpoint.
I return to the original question that why do we need education? Obviously to gain knowledge but then the next question comes up, i.e. how do we intend to use this acquired knowledge in our day to day life- in our professional and personal lives? In my personal viewpoint learning is a life-long process and the entire world is our school. The process of learning is not limited to just formalized institutions but it extends beyond that and it continues as long as one has the desire to learn in the pursuit of one's dreams and hopes.
No comments:
Post a Comment