Why Are We Qualifying but Not Educating?
- Atul Malikram (Author and Political Strategist)
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam once said, "The true purpose of education is not merely to obtain a degree but to utilize it for the benefit of society." However, over time, this notion has become blurred. We are living in an era where a degree is considered proof of qualification, yet how much real education and knowledge lies behind that degree has become a serious question. The significance of a degree is that it acts as a certificate of a person's qualification. But when this certificate becomes merely a name and lacks substantial knowledge, what value does it truly hold?
Today, the gap between qualification and education has widened to such an extent that bridging it has become increasingly difficult. Every year, millions of students graduate, but their graduation does not imply that they are educated according to their degree. Only a small percentage of these students genuinely learn something. This is because today's youth aspire to earn degrees, but they lack the desire to gain real knowledge. In other words, our youth are qualifying but not truly educating themselves.
You may argue that qualification and education are synonymous, but I must clarify that they are two distinct concepts often mistakenly understood as one. Understanding the difference between qualification and education is crucial. Qualification refers to a person's formal eligibility for a specific job, typically recognized through a degree, certificate, or diploma. In contrast, education refers to the development of real knowledge and skills, which comes not only from textbooks but also from experience, analysis, and logical thinking.
Nowadays, it is often observed that the primary goal of youth is merely to obtain a degree. They focus solely on how to complete the course as quickly as possible, earn a good degree, and secure a decent job. In this pursuit, they neither delve deeply into the course content nor learn anything substantial about the subject. This situation becomes even more serious when such individuals rise to higher positions. Without any real knowledge or experience, they struggle to fulfill the responsibilities of their roles adequately. This not only affects their work but also impacts the organizations they are a part of.
On the other hand, there are individuals with experience and knowledge who cannot qualify for positions due to the lack of a degree. This inequality leads not only to qualified individuals remaining unemployed but also to unqualified individuals occupying jobs, which adversely affects the quality of work.
The root cause of this disorder lies in our education system, which prepares students solely for scoring well in exams. Students are neither encouraged to understand subjects deeply nor to think from new perspectives. Many prestigious colleges focus only on placements, resulting in students being unaware of the true importance of education.
The true purpose of education is to prepare individuals for practical life. However, our outdated curricula lack the practical knowledge necessary for today's needs. For instance, the world has advanced to social media and video calls, yet our curricula still teach letter writing. Consequently, students may pass exams based solely on theoretical knowledge, but they remain incapable of addressing real-world problems.
Furthermore, today's youth often lack the eagerness to learn. In the past, teachers diligently taught lessons, and students learned with great dedication. However, today's children have become accustomed to following a predefined path without putting in effort to learn something new. When children do not wish to learn anything new, how can they truly learn anything at all? Technology has not helped this situation either. In earlier times, when resources were limited, students would learn any subject thoroughly, but today, with everything available at a click, there is a lack of dedication among students.
Socially, superficiality has become paramount. Society judges you based on the size of your degree and the quality of your job, regardless of whether you possess any real qualifications. This has led to the increased importance of qualification over education. In large companies, selection is based solely on degrees, meaning only qualified individuals secure jobs, regardless of whether they possess real knowledge and skills.
Unless we understand the core purpose of education and continue chasing only degrees, this problem will persist. To address it, we must first reform the education system, placing emphasis on skill development. Special courses and training programs are essential to teach students the technical and practical skills necessary in their fields. Additionally, coordination between educational institutions and industries needs to be enhanced so that curricula align with industry requirements, ensuring that students are job-ready upon graduation.
Moreover, the concept of lifelong learning should be promoted, helping young people realize that education extends beyond obtaining a degree; it is a lifelong, continuous process. Ultimately, companies must focus on candidates' real knowledge, skills, and experience rather than solely on degrees when hiring.
If we can genuinely implement these points, not only will our country's workforce strengthen, but the foundation of society will also become more robust. We need to take concrete steps in this direction to ensure that the coming generations are not just qualified but truly educated, thereby leading us towards a stronger and brighter future.
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