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by E. M. G. Edirisinghe

Primarily, the graduates have an obligation to society. Therefore, they must engage themselves at village level providing leadership, initiative and guidance to the people in general. They should not try to run away from the people who spent for their education

Sri Lankan graduates most of who hold degrees in arts and languages, numbering over 30,000 are either unemployed or underemployed. They are demanding jobs from the government. Some of them have been fasting and performing Sathyagraha while others were shouting fiery slogans, to draw the attention of the government on the one hand, and the public on the other, for the plight into which they were cast by the free education system.

The unemployed demand not only jobs but jobs which they think are in line with their learning and qualifications they have acquired. Except for those who have specialised in sciences and professions such as medicine, accountancy or engineering those who have obtained degrees in common arts subjects cannot as of right claim to have qualified in a particular field of work. The most they could fit in is either to be school teachers or clerks.

With the rapid development of the private sector economy at the expense of the contracting state sector, government or the graduates themselves cannot pressurise the private sector employers to give them jobs.

Whom they want to employ, they know as they alone are responsible for the efficient and profitable running of the business. The applicants for jobs should in the first instance, fit themselves into jobs available and not that jobs should be changed or rounded off to fit into the jobless graduates.

The degree is not at all a permit for a job. It is only a manifestation of the extent of discipline the young students have pursued in gathering knowledge and methodical storing for presentation whenever called for. The degree underwrites one's professional or academic standard. Degree-holders could seek jobs anywhere they wish or could create their own means of livelihood.

However, the degree awarding authority nor the government could be compelled to find jobs for them which suit their academic qualifications. One's right to education and employment is a fundamental right to which everybody is entitled.

The character of education and the nature of employment differ according to the potential of the citizen and the kind of economy that prevails at a given time. One can do any job which is not harmful to oneself or to society. There are no good or bad jobs. What is important is whether one is suitable for the job one applies for.

The graduates as more intelligent people of the society, should act with greater restraint and responsibility. The cost of their education upto the degree level is borne by the people and their duty is to learn, study and turn out to be good useful citizens. They are a class above the generality of the people.

The kind of employment opportunities is determined by the economic, social and political situation in a country. For example, in a country where liquor is banned there won't be toddy-tappers, bar-keepers or distillers. Former Taleban regime in Afghanistan created their own brands of jobs for men and women.

All graduates irrespective of how they have obtained their degrees whether by learning or cramming or by both and the extent to which his education had made him a fuller man should seek sedentary jobs which they think only goes with their elevated ego. Does that mean that alone would give them pre-eminence in the field of employment?

A graduate who joins as a junior executive, teacher or a clerk in a government department, may not draw more than Rs. 5000-8000 a month as emoluments. But, a carpenter or a mason who has only a minium of education could easily earn Rs. 12,000-15,000 month.

They are much better off than a beggarly salary of a clerk. If the educated youth, in the event of failure to get a 'good' job, take to skilled labour not only the dignity of labour will be recognised but also the bias against such skilled jobs too, would vanish. Moreover, recourse to corruption by some to make up for the insufficiency of the salary too, disappear.

It is not full employment, especially in the case of the educated youth that the country should aim at, but really full engagement of the intellectual elite of the society. They are useful to society in more than one way.

If they have had truly a complete university education, majority of them could fit into any form of useful honest engagement. Employment by itself is secondary and subservient to fruitful engagement of a graduate.

Primarily, the graduates have an obligation to society. Therefore, they must engage themselves at village level providing leadership, initiative and guidance to the people in general. They should not try to run away from the people who spent for their education.

They owe them a duty, in awakening them morally, spiritually, politically and socially. The political and religious leadership at rural and regional level had already fallen into decay with the trading in illicit liquor, gambling, crimes and engaging in all sorts of corrupt activities.

This pathetic situation is an outcome of the educated youth migrating to urban areas seeking unproductive positions in the employment market. They have alienated themselves from the village with disastrous consequences to society and to themselves.

Armed with knowledge and intellectual advancement they could easily take to the field of farming, construction, culture and religion and live among the people if they can't find a job which they think is 'better', without cursing and abusing the authorities spreading venom and anger a plenty of which we do already have.

The graduates must be an example not by displaying their certificates but by their own conduct, character and resourcefulness. They should not show timidity and lack of self confidence to come forward and engage themselves in whatever useful and constructive capacity available to them. Opportunities do not come after them must go for opportunities; if there isn't they must create them using their knowledge and learning. There is a huge gap between full engagement and full employment of the educated youth. In third world countries like ours, the openings for full engagement are more than for full employment.

The graduates failing to get jobs must grab the opportunities for full engagement employing their skill and position they have gained through learning. They must show courage and determination against all odds opened by shrinking opportunities for jobs.

Like babies they should not cry for everything from the elders, but be adults themselves to seek their own salvation at least after the parents and the state gave them sufficient mental, physical and academic strength to face upto challenges in the world outside.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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