Each and every major town in Kerala has at least half a dozen P.S.C Exam coaching centre.
It would be worth while and amusing to understand what they are doing and how it affects the young generation.
More importantly, what a traditional P.S.C exam coaching centre won't teach or can't teach you is to be noted.
1. In P.S.C exam coaching centres,
the first casualty is the infrastructure. Physical infrastructure will be a cramped space with age old "desk-bench" seating arrangement. Usually 80 or more students will be sitting in a single class room with 5-6 students in a single bench. What goes for a toss here is the learning environment. Does any thought is spared for the poor students while filling them up in a congested space?
2. Next important factor will be the 'faculty'. Who could be teaching P.S.C aspirants in these coaching centres? That is the most funny part in this, the teachers are mostly earlier aspirants who couldn't clear P.S.C exams.
3. Then comes the issue of "what is taught" in P.S.C exam coaching institutes. The most common element that cut across P.S.C coaching centres is their focus on rote learning. Students are encouraged to do mug up and by heart study material.
4. "How to teach", "How to learn": these aspects could be considered the central theme for any learning environment. The management and faculties of these institutes doesn't seem to have even heard of such concepts.
5. Students throng these institutes to find solace. In the sense, once they join an institute and do the daily chores associated with an exam coaching process, they can feel relieved from guilt of not doing anything in their life. They can also escape from parental pressures and social pressure.
Add to this, the Herd mentality of Human race. The students when they go to these institutes can spend some quality time with their friends and "since every one is going for "xs" institute, that must be the best" is their line of thought.
6. Next important aspect is, the belief system these coaching centres impart on the students.. Where else in the world does 95% of the population regard government Jobs to be the best career path, other than in Kerala?
Granted, being part of bureaucracy has its advantages and the remuneration part is also looking decent with recent pay hike. Still, malayalis inside Kerala seems to have a big attitude problem, in hailing run of the mill clerical government jobs as a dream destination for each and every one below the age of 36.
Every where else, especially in geographies which has similar human development profiles as Kerala, the onus is given on private job creation through entrepreneurship.
The students who enroll in P.S.C exam coaching programs are made to believe that government jobs is the ‘manna from heaven”, so to speak. A casual visit to any of the government office will be enough to know the truth. Unless every one is aiming for the same kind of work ethics that they could sense in a government run department, one need to differ about the “manna from heaven” part in popular belief drilled by P.S.C exam coaching programs.
The fact is government jobs are one of the many career path a person can have. A graduate can spread his wings, explore the world and make use of zillion opportunities.
The belief that government jobs offer the best “Job security” is just another myth. A person employed in the private sector has to upgrade his skills and knowledge. He or she can’t take for granted that promotions will come in a time bound manner with out brushing up skill, knowledge, and attitude.
But the government doesn’t ask for any such effort from its employees. The result is a large workforce with out much ability to design or execute work. Also most of them are so outdated and out of touch with modern developments, the government machinery runs akin to a bullock cart in race with a Bullet train.
So what, right?
What if Kerala Government goes Bankrupt? What if, Kerala’s economic situation deteriorates so much so that NO SALARY OR PENSION IS PAID TO ITS EMPLOYEES OR PENSIONERS? Before saying, “in your dreams” to the above statement consider the following facts.
Kerala government spend 23000 crore Rupees every year just for salary and pension. The size of our revenue is below 50,000 Crore Rupees. Is this sustainable? Considering the government employees make up less than 5% of the Kerala population, is this proportion of spending justified?
Time alone will tell. Still, the threat of Government employee salary not increasing in line with increasing living expenditure, in future, is really present. No amount of strikes or hartals by Employee unions could alter the picture, Kerala Government may not have resources to bear the huge salary, pension liability. To sustain the current well fed image of Kerala Government employees, the economy need to grow on a much faster pace with less reliance on central grant, Non resident Keralite inflow, and Agriculture commodity prices. The message is clear; we need more entrepreneurs and fast.
Kerala’s Finance Minister in his last budget speech said
It would be worth while and amusing to understand what they are doing and how it affects the young generation.
More importantly, what a traditional P.S.C exam coaching centre won't teach or can't teach you is to be noted.
1. In P.S.C exam coaching centres,
the first casualty is the infrastructure. Physical infrastructure will be a cramped space with age old "desk-bench" seating arrangement. Usually 80 or more students will be sitting in a single class room with 5-6 students in a single bench. What goes for a toss here is the learning environment. Does any thought is spared for the poor students while filling them up in a congested space?
2. Next important factor will be the 'faculty'. Who could be teaching P.S.C aspirants in these coaching centres? That is the most funny part in this, the teachers are mostly earlier aspirants who couldn't clear P.S.C exams.
3. Then comes the issue of "what is taught" in P.S.C exam coaching institutes. The most common element that cut across P.S.C coaching centres is their focus on rote learning. Students are encouraged to do mug up and by heart study material.
4. "How to teach", "How to learn": these aspects could be considered the central theme for any learning environment. The management and faculties of these institutes doesn't seem to have even heard of such concepts.
5. Students throng these institutes to find solace. In the sense, once they join an institute and do the daily chores associated with an exam coaching process, they can feel relieved from guilt of not doing anything in their life. They can also escape from parental pressures and social pressure.
Add to this, the Herd mentality of Human race. The students when they go to these institutes can spend some quality time with their friends and "since every one is going for "xs" institute, that must be the best" is their line of thought.
6. Next important aspect is, the belief system these coaching centres impart on the students.. Where else in the world does 95% of the population regard government Jobs to be the best career path, other than in Kerala?
Granted, being part of bureaucracy has its advantages and the remuneration part is also looking decent with recent pay hike. Still, malayalis inside Kerala seems to have a big attitude problem, in hailing run of the mill clerical government jobs as a dream destination for each and every one below the age of 36.
Every where else, especially in geographies which has similar human development profiles as Kerala, the onus is given on private job creation through entrepreneurship.
The students who enroll in P.S.C exam coaching programs are made to believe that government jobs is the ‘manna from heaven”, so to speak. A casual visit to any of the government office will be enough to know the truth. Unless every one is aiming for the same kind of work ethics that they could sense in a government run department, one need to differ about the “manna from heaven” part in popular belief drilled by P.S.C exam coaching programs.
The fact is government jobs are one of the many career path a person can have. A graduate can spread his wings, explore the world and make use of zillion opportunities.
The belief that government jobs offer the best “Job security” is just another myth. A person employed in the private sector has to upgrade his skills and knowledge. He or she can’t take for granted that promotions will come in a time bound manner with out brushing up skill, knowledge, and attitude.
But the government doesn’t ask for any such effort from its employees. The result is a large workforce with out much ability to design or execute work. Also most of them are so outdated and out of touch with modern developments, the government machinery runs akin to a bullock cart in race with a Bullet train.
So what, right?
What if Kerala Government goes Bankrupt? What if, Kerala’s economic situation deteriorates so much so that NO SALARY OR PENSION IS PAID TO ITS EMPLOYEES OR PENSIONERS? Before saying, “in your dreams” to the above statement consider the following facts.
Kerala government spend 23000 crore Rupees every year just for salary and pension. The size of our revenue is below 50,000 Crore Rupees. Is this sustainable? Considering the government employees make up less than 5% of the Kerala population, is this proportion of spending justified?
Time alone will tell. Still, the threat of Government employee salary not increasing in line with increasing living expenditure, in future, is really present. No amount of strikes or hartals by Employee unions could alter the picture, Kerala Government may not have resources to bear the huge salary, pension liability. To sustain the current well fed image of Kerala Government employees, the economy need to grow on a much faster pace with less reliance on central grant, Non resident Keralite inflow, and Agriculture commodity prices. The message is clear; we need more entrepreneurs and fast.
Kerala’s Finance Minister in his last budget speech said
“Being a State having close linkages with global economy, Kerala will be easily impacted by global economic developments, be it recession or boom. The fall in the prices of agricultural produces, stagnation in construction sector, decrease in employment opportunities in service sector, fall in the income and employment opportunities in tourism sector etc are the adverse effects of the recession in the State.”
If more need to be told to convince you about this, do send us a mail or comment.
It is not true that there are lakhs of 'Educated Unemployed person' what is clearly meant by unemployement? absence of a government job or not having a decent job to meet all his needs? inface we can see a scarcity of educated people for doing works. If you are willing to do work there are humpty number of opportunities around, including open jobs and business opportunities - only if you look around. You will only see darkness arount unless you open your eyes.
ReplyDelete@Priyasajan. Very true.
ReplyDeleteA good Trainer,especially experienced in competetive exams can lead a fresher job aspirant in Govt field. If he or she tries alone they cant find any corner of the success.So dont accuse Competetive centers. Ofcourse, there is some study centers where only the psc job aspirants taking the classes.
ReplyDelete