Beyond GCE A-L

The results of the GCE A-L Examination are out. Though about 250,000 sat for the examination it would be less than 10 percent of them who would have the chance of entering a University. Out of those who get through only a small percentage would be lucky to enter. The balance would have to either seek University education abroad or look for other avenues of study or employment.

This means over 200,000 students would have their hopes of pursuing higher education shattered. How could the State ensure fruitful employment to such a large number of educated youth who join the ranks of the unemployed annually?

The Government seems to be conscious of their plight. That is why moves are afoot to bring in foreign Universities to the country with the help of the private sector. Yet that would only help a small fraction of the over 200,000 hapless youth whose labour would be deprived to the national economy during the prime of their youth.

The frustration of such a huge mass of youth is a cause for concern. It is also a fertile ground for youth rebellion. Though several Commissions and Committees have deliberated on the problems of the youth no satisfactory way out has been found so far to the predicament of this youth.

Two factors are obvious. One is that most of these youth are unable to join the labour force even when job opportunities are available because of the lack of vocational training. This defect has to be remedied. It is necessary to impart vocational training in fields in which there is a dearth of manpower at present. One could identify several fields where jobs in skilled and semi-skilled grades have a great demand. It would also be desirable to introduce vocational subjects at the Senior Secondary stage at school, possibly with industry training. In addition school leavers should be provided with opportunities for vocational and technical education and training.

The other factor that gives rise to a dormant labour force is the slow expansion of the economy. True, the war was a restraining factor earlier. With the dawn of peace and the development plans initiated by the Government the economy should expand in the forthcoming period. It is necessary to plan and develop the required human resources necessary for the economy well in advance. For this purpose human resource development should get priority and adequate resources should be available through the Government Budget. It is also necessary to enhance the productivity of labour through the use of advanced and state-of-art technology.

It would be impossible to advance to be the Wonder of Asia if there is qualitatively higher technological base for our industries. It is particularly necessary to introduce higher technology to our agriculture including plantation agriculture as well as to productive industries.

The Budget 2011 had correctly emphasized on the need for value addition for most of our exports. Such value addition would depend on the results of scientific research and development. No country has escaped from the abyss of under-development without the application of R & D.

Another factor to be addressed is graduate unemployment. It has to be ensured that more University places for GCE A-L qualified does not mean more unemployed graduates at the end of three or four years. This calls for a radical overhaul of the University administrative, academic and research structures.

Those who sit for the GCE A-L are the most brilliant out of all who sat for the O-L. The faults of those who fail to gain admission to the Universities lie mainly elsewhere in the education system. It is up to the public and private sectors to take them to their fold and give them a proper orientation to fit in to the world of work. There is no reason for them to fail as they are talented enough. The fault also lies also in the scanty and stingy outlays on human resource development in many industrial and business concerns, whether private or public.

The Universities should also have multiple entry points. They should also device specialized courses for those who come from the world of work to get an academic knowledge to supplement their practical skills. Greater focus on inter-disciplinary studies and research also would give both students and staff of the Universities to lean away from the segregated structures which they relish at present and seek new vistas.