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SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

Realistically speaking, no matter how much investment is made, if the system of education is not properly framed and enforced, the quality of education will be poorer than expected.

In my view, in Tamilnadu, not one system of education is in force, but many. Almost all the colleges are brought under one university. Some high-profile colleges are granted the DEEMED UNIVERSITY status which enables them to have their own syllabi for the courses and gives them the right to evaluate their students.

In short, different systems of education mean differences in the quality of engineering education in different systems. The quality of education is allowed to differ by the government. Coupled with this are the hap-hazard teaching methods which solely depend upon the COMPLETION OF PORTIONS and not the comprehension of subjects. The lecturers run through the syllabus in an urge to complete their ‘portions’ making way for the most philosophically idiotic teaching methodology- THE TEACHING IN THE EXAMINATION POINT OF VIEW.

There is no separate engineering for examinations.

This is a fact grossly misunderstood and overlooked by the teaching fraternity of engineering colleges in Tamilnadu. Exceptions are there but one Abdul Kalam for a college won’t serve the purpose. The subjects are taught keeping in mind the examinations alone. Students are forced to study without knowing what they are studying and why. Practical teaching, though prescribed a lot, is limited in the engineering colleges owing to the poor infrastructure of the college laboratories.

To engineer is to create. Students restrict themselves to their examinations. This is mainly because of the mental pressure they are subjected to and the educational system.

They score marks without knowing what they studied and why. To my utter dismay, most of the time these marks are held as the measuring parameters of the student’s intelligence in the job market.

In my view, clearing examinations alone doesn’t make an engineer, which is just contradictory to the current trend of engineering education in Tamilnadu. When the current system of education can’t even frame syllabi such that the lecturers can complete them in the prescribed time, on what base is it boasted that quality engineers are being produced.

CONCLUSION

Based on my interpretations, I can conclude that the current status of engineering education in Tamilnadu is BAD and is bound to deteriorate further if left unchecked. The engineers produced are just graduates in engineering and not the kind of skilled labour that the engineering industry needs. If it seems that throughout the nation engineering education is the same as in Tamilnadu, then it has to be humbly accepted as an obvious coincidence. This article is concerned only with the engineering colleges of Tamilnadu. Just because it is the same all over and because it is in existence for a long time, it can’t be accepted as right and good. All that exist for long are not right. Exceptions are there but can’t be taken as examples because it is not one or two that we are concerned about. The entire engineering fraternity is what I am referring to. Students have marks but lack technical knowledge. Remembering formulae and scoring marks are not what employers expect. They expect the abilities to innovate and create. This is the reason many engineering graduates are left unemployed.

To check, alter and enforce a single proper system of education, is one logical solution I would like to suggest. To create alone is not the matter; to maintain it is equally important. Proper monitoring of the system of education which might involve the regular monitoring of colleges is very important.

Commercialization of education has to be at least controlled if not stopped. Institutions should be allowed to admit students only after confirming the fact that the college has everything required for the students. This does not mean that the institutions can have samples of everything and start admitting students.

The syllabi should be framed such that they suit the actual demands in the engineering industry. Students should study what they will do in the industry. Professional training should be made compulsory and it should be incorporated into the curriculum. What I am referring to is not the information given through printed papers that boast of training in colleges. What is declared, should be rightly enforced. Then is the authenticity of the system of education justified completely.

For all the above mentioned things to happen, the government has to take steps. It is with the people to change their attitude and ask the government to change things for their welfare.

Recently, Bill gates, in America, has told his countrymen that their 50 year old educational system of the schools doesn’t suit the current requirements. He has also warned them that if the system is not altered, he may not be in position to take their kids as his employees in future.

From this, we are supposed to learn that things change over a period of time and we should change accordingly. When developed countries find a 50 year old educational system an old one, nothing is wrong in checking our system and altering it as per the current needs.

With all the hope of engineering education getting back its glory, I conclude by making a point that if by any chance, I get an opportunity to rule, I will surely change the system of education such that our children get the opportunity to learn and perform science and technology for the benefit of themselves, our nation and MANKIND.

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