SIMERF Newsletter Nov -09 ~~Integrating knowledge…empowering lives
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Nasscom study declares Indian graduates ‘half-literate’
Let us ask ourselves a question what is literacy(1)…can there be something as half literacy? Or shall we brand it as literacy in its incompleteness? Is half literacy equal to half illiteracy?
Courtesy: DC/01/11/09 “ According to a recent study, tech companies reject up to 90 percent graduates and 75 percent engineers as they are not worth training”*
What it means when you declare that the Indian graduates are half literate?
It could mean many things such as:
1. The Government Of India, both central and state are incapable of delivering professional education through the concerned machineries and ministries
2. That our statutory bodies and apex councils are no good because they have failed to produce results other than just conducting inspections and slapping notices
3. Students are not interested in their studies, infact they do not know what they want
4. Teachers and professors are not dedicated or skilled enough to make the students literates
5. Parents in this country are ambitiously vague and do not set an example for their children or rather kids after 10 years do not want to emulate their parents.
6. There are countries in the world where graduates are full literates and India is not one of those countries!
Huh? Hmmmm...
A clear cut message
Since it is Nasscom that has declared* and through a national daily, added with the power of the ‘womb’ (word of mouth branding) will wild-fire in sending the message across the globe cautioning prospective employers against the Indian brand. The performance or knowledge fidelity of even those who are selected will be more carefully scrutinized during every PA (performance appraisal) being just by being an Indian.
Angel’s Advocate
One can argue and say that the above message may not hold water, as the whole world knows from the recent economic crisis during which the American banking management system had severe ‘pneumonia’ whereas their counterparts in India had just ‘goose pimples’. What we are trying to argue is that the Indian engineers, graduates and managers are actually performing extremely well.
It looks like other than the Gurukul system in ancient India, no other educational system has understood the art and science of delivering real education that can transform and benefit the students. In the Gurukul they had a system to treat each disciple uniquely that includes change of teachers and the teaching methodology. Thanks to the British Raj we have deviated from our good old system.
We will leave the readers with a fundamental and revived question on our educational system where even mentoring or coaching is a cost-benefit affair.
Are all students alike? Are all students having the same background? Financially, socially? No? right then it is obvious that every student has a unique fingerprint with respect to learning abilities. If this is the case how can a uniform, standardized education delivery value in order to create full literates?
The same evaluation pattern, the same rewards, the same punishment, and the same teachers with the same old teaching methodology is like trying to put the same and multiple number of 10 inch rocks into different vessels having numerous shapes and sizes! Is like having the same price, buying and selling methods for 1 kg gold, I kg silver and 1 kg of onions! All three are equally important in their own ways.
Looks like we may then have to conduct another study to conclude that even other graduates from the ‘so called’ fully literate countries are actually half literates like the so called half literate Indians.
(1). Literacy is a concept claimed and defined by a range of different theoretical fields. In everyday terms, "literacy" is typically described as the ability to read and write. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has drafted a definition of literacy as the "ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society." – wikipedia
Look for more discussions on the above topic. Courtesy from www.simerf.com
Mentoring Coaches with similarities for the desired difference!
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Nasscom study declares Indian graduates ‘half-literate’
Let us ask ourselves a question what is literacy(1)…can there be something as half literacy? Or shall we brand it as literacy in its incompleteness? Is half literacy equal to half illiteracy?
Courtesy: DC/01/11/09 “ According to a recent study, tech companies reject up to 90 percent graduates and 75 percent engineers as they are not worth training”*
What it means when you declare that the Indian graduates are half literate?
It could mean many things such as:
1. The Government Of India, both central and state are incapable of delivering professional education through the concerned machineries and ministries
2. That our statutory bodies and apex councils are no good because they have failed to produce results other than just conducting inspections and slapping notices
3. Students are not interested in their studies, infact they do not know what they want
4. Teachers and professors are not dedicated or skilled enough to make the students literates
5. Parents in this country are ambitiously vague and do not set an example for their children or rather kids after 10 years do not want to emulate their parents.
6. There are countries in the world where graduates are full literates and India is not one of those countries!
Huh? Hmmmm...
A clear cut message
Since it is Nasscom that has declared* and through a national daily, added with the power of the ‘womb’ (word of mouth branding) will wild-fire in sending the message across the globe cautioning prospective employers against the Indian brand. The performance or knowledge fidelity of even those who are selected will be more carefully scrutinized during every PA (performance appraisal) being just by being an Indian.
Angel’s Advocate
One can argue and say that the above message may not hold water, as the whole world knows from the recent economic crisis during which the American banking management system had severe ‘pneumonia’ whereas their counterparts in India had just ‘goose pimples’. What we are trying to argue is that the Indian engineers, graduates and managers are actually performing extremely well.
It looks like other than the Gurukul system in ancient India, no other educational system has understood the art and science of delivering real education that can transform and benefit the students. In the Gurukul they had a system to treat each disciple uniquely that includes change of teachers and the teaching methodology. Thanks to the British Raj we have deviated from our good old system.
We will leave the readers with a fundamental and revived question on our educational system where even mentoring or coaching is a cost-benefit affair.
Are all students alike? Are all students having the same background? Financially, socially? No? right then it is obvious that every student has a unique fingerprint with respect to learning abilities. If this is the case how can a uniform, standardized education delivery value in order to create full literates?
The same evaluation pattern, the same rewards, the same punishment, and the same teachers with the same old teaching methodology is like trying to put the same and multiple number of 10 inch rocks into different vessels having numerous shapes and sizes! Is like having the same price, buying and selling methods for 1 kg gold, I kg silver and 1 kg of onions! All three are equally important in their own ways.
Looks like we may then have to conduct another study to conclude that even other graduates from the ‘so called’ fully literate countries are actually half literates like the so called half literate Indians.
(1). Literacy is a concept claimed and defined by a range of different theoretical fields. In everyday terms, "literacy" is typically described as the ability to read and write. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has drafted a definition of literacy as the "ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society." – wikipedia
Look for more discussions on the above topic. Courtesy from www.simerf.com
Mentoring Coaches with similarities for the desired difference!
Madhu
ReplyDeleteSIMERF
Nice!it is a food for every ones thought.
Literacy is a term which has no proper definition.such inconvenient statements from institution like NASSCOM make us loose hope in our education system. for producing a product for the consumers the initial step is to focus on the demographics, pscychographics , behavioural styles every thing. like that when education becomes the unavoidable part of life, such yard sticks has to be kept to fulfill the needs. Every country is different from others, as such people in countries differ a lot from each other. So the authoritative institutions can stop commentiing and start executing the action plans to develop the literacy.The history of India, is evident about the scholars and learned nobles of all the ages. The glimpse of the Gurukul education system must be made re-available for the growing generations.
Great... despite us weathering the storm (of global depression), we have been termed as "half-literates"... now, that's a term that NASSCOM needs to re-consider especially for Indians! or probably look at naming citizens of some other countries too!!! yes, agreed that the Gurukul system was awesome... not wanting to blame the education system, but yes, there needs to be a teeny-wheeny change that can be brought about in the education system which looks at an "All-round" development of its Pupils.
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