Teacher's day: 59% students in India unemployable, reveals survey

More than half the students in the country – 59% - are not employable, Maharashtra teachers have said. A nation-wide survey released on the eve of Teacher’s Day on Friday, found that 55% teachers in Maharashtra believed that our assessment system does not lead to an all-round development of students.

More than half the students in the country – 59% - are not employable, Maharashtra teachers have said. A nation-wide survey released on the eve of Teacher’s Day on Friday, found that 55% teachers in Maharashtra believed that our assessment system does not lead to an all-round development of students.

Views of 5,387 teachers from schools and higher education institutes across 527 cities in India were collated in the survey. In Maharashtra, it covered 51 cities – Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Lonavla, Nashik, Ratnagiri and others. It was conducted with the objective of understanding teachers’ views on themes proposed in the new education policy.

Teachers across the country believed 57% of students do not possess skills for employment. Around 40% teachers did not believe the country’s existing curriculum provided for holistic growth of the child.

Close to 55% teachers across the country felt the current assessment framework did not allow teachers and parents to aid students’ progress. At the school-level, 53% state teachers said having continuous evaluation would help in better assessment of children. Interestingly, 49% of teachers also believed that integration ethics and life skills would make children employable.

The majority of the teachers, 82% in the state and 75% in the country, said existing courses should be restructured with industry-academia partnership.

Amol Dhamdhere, vice-president, Indian Education Society (IES), said, “Most college syllabi are not updated or related to the industry. Most engineering colleges in India provide very limited practical knowledge and students have to be trained according to the industry standards once they step out of colleges.”

Merit-based internships were recommended by nearly 48% of all teachers. Dilip Kamath, Principal Mithibai College, Vile Parle said, “Most post graduation courses are not designed according to the Industry standards. Also, internships will give hands on experience.”