Higher Education or skills, what holds good for the Future of the Community?
Education or skills development? What is the most essential requirement for the lakhs of Muslim youth who are either unemployed or under employed? the answer is empowering youth with employability skills. Gone are days when degrees were much sought after and were passports to the white collar jobs . I am not talking anything against the education, what I suggest is, if skills are imparted with education at school and college level millions of unemployed will be benefited. With dwindling of white collar jobs, and huge demand for the skilled workforce many employers in India and abroad look for skilled workforce. People with basic education and good in skills are in huge demand and pay is also handsome, in many case skilled people earn thrice the wages compared to their educated counterparts. In the past many education commissions have proposed, introduction of Socially useful productive work (SUPW) at school level, this idea was a prequel to the skills development in future unfortunately this idea didn’t translated into reality.
Types of skills
There are two broad categories of skills one for the professionals like, graduates in, sciences, technologies, medicine etc. and the other one is for non-professionals, like construction workers, health workers, plumbers, masons, electricians, automobile mechanics etc. The professional graduates need soft skills to get decent placements in MNCs. Recent trend shows that Hundreds and thousands of professional graduates couldn’t make it to the top companies due to lack of softs skills notably communication skills. Come June Every year Institutions of higher education Conduct ‘campus selection’ camps, only a handful of students make it to the final interview, the reason: these Institutions hardly show seriousness in conducting employability skills training.
Skills training can boost the Economic and social status of Muslim youth
If we look at educational status of Muslim community we can find the large chunk of students either dropout after intermediate or pursue degrees in humanities, these degrees don’t help them secure a decent job and they land in some menial jobs. If This large segment of students are given training in skilled and semiskilled trades they find jobs easily or can become self-employed. The most popular and high-in-demand skills these days are: medical lab technician, nursing assistant, X-ray technician, health workers, AC technicians, automobile technician, landscapers, interior decorators and the list is endless.
How to start skills development centers at minimal investment?
National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) supports enterprises start-ups and organizations by providing funding support, concessional loans and other innovative financial products, NSDC mission is to enhance support and coordinate private sector initiatives in vocational training, initiative, that opens up a world of opportunities for the potential workforce.
Muslim Trusts, individuals and organizations can also conduct skills training courses approved and managed by Bharat Sevak Samaj BSS, under the Government of India Planning commission. BSS offers around four hundred short and long term courses in, Medical field, agriculture, horticulture, education, health care etc. Any charitable organization can start these training courses immediately by paying a prescribed fee at the regional centers. Existing premises of schools, colleges and madrasas could be used to impart training by hiring skilled technicians. These initiates would go along way to provide job and self-employment opportunities for hundreds and thousands of Muslim boys and girls. Al Aman Educational and Charitable Trust is forefront in proving skills training at free of cost at its Bangalore center, the trust is willing to provide necessary guidance for Muslim organizations, to start Skills training centers.
Dear Bothers and Sisters your donation could turn poor Muslim students into IAS officers, executives, entrepreneurs, businessmen and future donors and Zakat givers.
Donate Generously.
May ALLAH ST bless his bounties upon you, your families and well wishers, AAMEEN.
