Youth preferences

According to a survey conducted by the Colombo University fifty percent of youth who took part in the survey had wanted to migrate. This is an alarming trend. That means they are not satisfied with the state of affairs in the country and wish to find a distant land to live.

Obviously they do not seem to have any regard for the country of their birth. Their value systems seem to be alien. It is necessary to find out why they want to emigrate. Perhaps economic hardships would have driven some to the decision. Others may have been lured by relatives or friends already abroad.

Still others may be under illusions of easy life abroad. Perhaps the prevailing idea of consumerism that is so much marketed in the media today is also a cause for such an attitude. Whatever the reasons fifty percent is a very big figure.

One thing is clear. The results survey point to widespread disillusionment among youth. This problem has to be addressed with no delay. It is no secret that around 75-80 percent of those that qualify for University admission do not get a chance to enter the universities.

They are denied a chance either to study or find a means of living according to their qualifications. Even University graduates find it difficult to obtain jobs where they could use the knowledge and skills gained through studies.

For example, it is quite common to see agriculture or agronomy graduates being employed as clerical hands or managers at best in places that have nothing to do with agriculture. This happens while agriculture is the principal means of living of a majority of the people in the country.

The fault lies in the static nature of the economy. The economy is not only small in scale but also devoid of new branches that could absorb the human resources that remain idle at present. With the production sphere constrained by lack of investment and resources, the pressure for jobs in the services sector is immense.

A discipline-wise breakdown of those who aspire to join the universities shows that almost 44 percent of students wish to enter Arts and Commerce faculties. Those who follow Biology and Mathematics streams at the G C E (Advanced Level) are a mere five and four percent respectively.

There is a disturbing trend away from Science and Technology related disciplines. The low level of passes in Science and Technology and Mathematics at G C E (Ordinary Level) is a contributory factor.

The method and content of Science and Technology and Mathematics education should be revised. The lack of a creative spirit and entrepreneurship skills among schoolchildren is appalling. Even the few who are creative and innovative are not recognized or rewarded adequately.

According to the survey only 17 percent of youth could speak English. In the context of the knowledge society in which today’s youth have to work and live, the lack of proficiency in an international language is a handicap.

Though the State spends considerable money and resources to teach English the results so far have been dismal. It is to be hoped that the new Presidential initiative on English and IT education would at least bear fruit.

There is also another disturbing trend. That is the excessive preference for State sector employment. It is not clear whether the reason for such preference was given by those who took part in the survey.

There is, however, a perception that State employment is more secure and that it does not involve much work. Those who prefer to earn as much as possible with by doing the least possible amount of work tend to prefer the State sector.

In the opinion of the youth the private sector work is harder. Such an attitude to work does not augur well for the country. Obviously they are unaware of the dignity and value of labour.

All these point to two things. One is the lack of patriotic education, whatever the rhetoric that is blurted out by politicians and bureaucrats at platforms. The other is the lack of a coherent youth policy and an effective plan to solve their problems. The sooner these issues are addressed the better it is for the country and its youth.