Let me learn - II

Do you remember the famous caption ‘padhne likhne ki koi umar nahi hoti’ launched under the National Literacy Mission? It was initiated with the aim of creating a learning society. It promoted functional literacy amongst the population who were deprived of the elementary education. This initiative of Indian government is a confirmation of its pro-educationist perspective. But is this the absolute truth?

In India, education is meant to provide livelihood. Good governance had invariably encountered the challenge of employing the educated youth. Owing to the huge population, governments have tried to evade this responsibility cleverly by incorporating age restriction as the criteria for job eligibility. This aims at reducing the competition amongst the aspirants, not on the basis of their intellect but because they have attained the prescribed age.

This disheartens me, as even if I want, I cannot continue with the academics because in that case I might attain the age of restriction and end up being jobless. Fear of being ineligible for a government job creates a dilemma; whether to further pursue studies or to delve in a job hunt. Therefore, being more educated can be ruinous as it might leave you being unemployed, besides, that you have the experience and a vast knowledge at your disposal.

Another surprising aspect of government’s incompetence is to deny a student to study Master’s twice from the same university. Meaning one studying Master’s in Commerce cannot be enrolled in Master’s in Economic’s (this happened to me). The reasons are better known to the Education department. Is this not a violation of my Fundamental right to education? Sorry, that too is for the children between 6-14 years of age.

However, a ridiculous outcome of this education versus government job equation is the fabrication of birth details of the students when they are enrolled in schools. I believe all of us will agree to this, as many of our friends, siblings or our own documented year of birth is altered (rather reduced). The only reason attributed to this is, it will give us the viability to stay in the competition for the government job for some more years. Will India ever treat its population as an asset than a liability? Will ever we be allowed to immerse ourselves in the world of knowledge without the fear of being outraced for a position? 

Also, the inception of National Literacy Mission was to impart functional literacy to population between 15-35 years of age group that are in productive or reproductive phase of life. What to say about this atomistic insight? Can I conclude that the government feels it is more befitting for youth to work than study or rather I should not ask government for a job?