Mumbai has 120 Urdu medium schools, catering to a large section of Muslim students. Every year about 10 to 12 thousand students from these schools appear for the 10th standard Board examination.
Sadly, most of them miss on making it big in their career due to lack of information, ignorance towards new and unconventional careers and proper guidance leading to failure in making right decisions/ choices for their careers and admission in routine course. This leaves them handicapped while competing with the recent trends of globalization and modern education.
There is no platform which can guide students about the various aspect of career selection. Whether our children's current dreams become a reality or they go on to do something entirely different, a big question mark hang over the future of these youth.
For thousands of students who are studying in 10th class, it is time to build dreams, plan careers, and make smart moves. And how do they go about it? By selecting the right career, the right Pre-University College and the right combination of study. How easy or tough is that task?
For starters, a decision is not easy. Because, you have hundreds of colleges to choose from, over two dozen subject combinations and countless career choices. Thus there is a huge vacuum
Two friends Kazim Malik, a lecturer in college and Amir Ansari, a school teacher decided to fill in this vacuum by organizing “Career Fest 2010 – Conquer Your Dreams” held at M.H.Saboo Siddik college ground, Mumbai on January 9-11 this year. It was an effort to provide a platform to students, parents and educational institute, so that every new prospects and virtuous chance gets available to the entire needful and aspiring student. Education & Career Fair is an ideal platform where the efficient and deserving could get proper information regarding educational institute and career opportunities.
Nearly 10,000 students were given guidance during this Fest. Islamic Voice in collaboration with Trends Research & Analysis Center (TRAC) conducted the survey amongst those who visited the “Career Fest 2010”.
A total of 211 students from Urdu medium schools from across Mumbai were interviewed during the Fest. Ninety eight of these students with high percentage of marks said they plan to complete college education and obtain professional employment. 92 per cent of the respondents planned to attend college and 78 per cent expected to obtain professional jobs.
79 per cent of the respondents stated that stable and high income jobs are important factors that lead to a dream career whilst 39.5 per cent stated passion and interest behind their career selection. This proved that a stable job is still very much important in determining an ideal job compared to a not-so-secure job like being an artist.
38.5 per cent stated that they were self motivated in determining their dream career, 32 per cent said it was shaped by their parents while for 29.5 per cent it was their friends who helped them fix the contours of their dreams. This undoubtedly proved that youth do understand their right path. They are not affected by the conventional mindset of family and peer pressure.
91 per cent believed that education and good grades will help them pursue their dream career and 33.49 per cent of them are enrolling themselves in self improvement courses to achieve their dream career. Muslim students in general still strongly believe in scoring good grades to have a chance to help them pursue their dream career.
However, a huge 72.63per cent stated that finding a job in India today is not easy. Therefore, instilling oneself with appropriate skills was extremely important and finding one's niche will be the key to securing his or her dream career.
79 per cent of Muslim students when asked said that they are feeling very insecure with respect to their future. They are unable to find enough guidance for their career choice.
Besides career choice and guidance, the need of the hour is team of competent counselors who can motivate students in a better way. Parents and teachers do a simple but really a grave mistake of comparing these average students with other bright students and humiliate them. The teachers discourage them. They are not taught how to face failures. Students become emotional and this reduces their self esteem. During such situations some run away from families, some even go to the extreme step of committing suicide.
The real solution is that every school should make it mandatory for teachers to take career guidance sessions for 10th standard as well as mentoring sessions for their own students. Externally organizing career festivals has limited scope. Efforts need to be focus within the school.
Teachers most of the times are engaged in the mechanical job of delivering the content in the class room, oblivious of the emotional, and spiritual needs as well as overall development of the students. Regular motivation workshops for the teachers are essential. If students are to be properly guided and motivated, first school teachers must be motivated.
