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“We can win respect in the world only if we are strong internally and can banish poverty and unemployment from our country.”
(Lal Bahadur Shastri)
At this time the world is going through many problems, such as political and economic instability, extremism and terrorism, poverty and climate change etc. Reading any newspaper or watching headlines or news shows, one will find one crisis after the other and will only get disappointed and start losing trust in political leadership and their policies. Unfortunately, the same is the case with Pakistan.
Because of these problems everybody suffers, but those who suffer the most are students, who happen to be the future of the country as well as the entire world.
What purpose this simple piece of paper – known as degree – will serve without any jobs available to students?
Pakistan currently has largest youth population of its history with 64% population below the age of 30, and 29% population between 15-29 years of age. Despite this significant human resource, policies regarding youth have been ill-conceived in the country and the education system is in bad shape.. Many of the children either do not get proper education or cannot continue studies due to unavailability of schools in their town, family restrictions and other reasons. Girls, in particular, suffer the most. On the other hand, those who are able to do graduation or higher degree with their hard work struggle to find jobs. All ministers or public office holders want to get schools, colleges and universities built in their constituencies, so that they can ask for vote, but no one thinks about where these students will go once they are graduates. What purpose this simple piece of paper – known as degree – will serve without any jobs available for them? There are fewer private companies which can offer them jobs, who will accommodate rest of others?
Consequently, many of the student look toward government. If any vacancies are announced by the government departments, thousands of aspirants apply for it. They do not care if this job is suitable to them or not, they just want to do it because no other option is available to them for their livelihood and they consider themselves burden on parents. One can observe how some graduates have to drive their vehicles for private transport companies like Uber and Careem and some others work with food delivery services.
A few days ago, from 14th to 17th November, National Testing Service (NTS) conducted tests for several positions for the Ministry of Defense (MoD). Thousands of students, with graduation or above qualification, appeared in the test. Despite worried about their career and struggling with unemployment, such job positions and tests bring a new hope for future. Unfortunately, such tests often add insult to injury. For instance, in the said test for MoD, there were only 120 minutes available to attempt 200 questions. More than 20 questions were dealing in analytical reasoning, which take sufficient time in reaching their solution. On the contrary, in other tests, NTS allows 120 minutes for 100 questions. Moreover, in the MoD’s test, questions were asked from more than 10 subjects i.e., English, Pakistan Studies, Analytical Reasoning, Current Affairs, Economics, Psychology, Sociology etc. The worrisome aspect was that they did not even upload the syllabus for the test, which they usually do for other tests on their official website.
There should be a proper way for conducting such job tests.
It will not be overstatement to say that this test was like rubbing salt into the wound. After all the struggle, including paying challan (test fee), sending documents through courier, paying fare for conveyance to reach examination center and coming back home, candidates got only mental stress in return. It seems testing services just want more and more candidates to apply for the job so that they can earn more and more money.
Moreover, there are such complaints that sometimes these tests are conducted in pathetic conditions. For instance, there are issues of light, fans and sitting arrangements, as well as that of unavailability of water or wall clock.
There should be a proper way for conducting such job tests. Proper time must be allocated for solution. Syllabus should be made known at the time of advertisement so that those who think they can do it may apply. NTS and other testing services have a very important responsibility on their shoulders, and they should overhaul their policies regarding tests.
The above discussion epitomize fairly that students are going through very bad time. If their problems, especially that of unemployment, is not addressed properly, the whole generation will suffer badly which is alarming for the country. No nation can progress without a due share of its young population. Officials should think and take necessary steps to address these problems if they really want this country to progress. More jobs should be created in government departments as well as by attracting foreign investors. Programs like ‘Kamyab Jawan’ by the current government seems promising but it should be implemented smoothly. It is observed that as new government comes, it ignores the programs and policies of the previous government and starts its own without thinking how much amount is invested on it from national treasury. This practice should also be stopped and continuation of policies should be ensured. Leaders need to be visionary and policies should be long term.
About the Author:
Khanesh Kumar Rathi is a computer engineer and blogger from Chelhar, Tharparkar. He can be reached at rathijk55@gmail.com
