The speciality of modern education is that vocational training is combined with study. Today, people are realizing the reality that classroom learning alone cannot brighten their future lives. That is why Kerala, which is far behind in such issues, has started trying this new way, albeit slowly. The challenges faced by young men and women who have completed their studies in the field of employment are tough. Even if they get through the written test which is held in two and three stages, if they want to pass the great hurdle of the interview, they need to have good luck as well. It is in this context that Indian Railways' move to recruit candidates for Group-D posts based on basic qualifications, without any written test or interview, is noteworthy.
At present railway recruitment for lower posts is based on ITI or NAC qualifications along with educational qualifications. The recruitment is going to be done on the basis of 10th Class - Higher Secondary qualification alone for the posts of Workshop Assistant, Diesel-Electrical Assistant, Points Man, Track Maintenance, Signal Assistant etc. This decision will benefit tens of thousands of young women who do not have vocational training course certificates. Currently, there are thousands of vacancies in this sector. It is indicated that applications will be invited for appointment to 32,000 vacancies immediately. There will be 10 to 12 lakh candidates to write the PSC exam which is conducted for a sepoy post in the state government service. Although 8th class is the qualification for this post, candidates can range from engineering to PhD graduates.
Just a degree has become a costless commodity in the job market. The situation is that people can only be saved if there are changes in the recruitment norms according to the times. States can also consider the new decision of Railways, the country's largest employer, for appointments to sectors where education and trade qualifications are not required. Recruitment advertisements for many posts ask for work experience. Employers do not consider the fact that one can gain experience in a field only if one can work. Senior workers are those who started as helpers and became skilled workers in a short period of time. The industrial world moves forward on their strength and ability.
As far as Kerala is concerned, the youngsters here are ready to go to any corner of the world for work. It is not uncommon for many people to be deceived in this field. However, if they know that there is a job opportunity, they are ready to reach there even taking a huge risk. There is news that the government is about to give permission to organize campus recruitment for B.Sc nursing graduates. A committee has also been appointed to make rules in this regard. For the time being, campus recruitment will be done by including only government colleges. Private nursing colleges of higher quality should also be included gradually. As there are lakhs of vacancies for B.Sc nurses in foreign countries including Germany, the government should take the initiative to take advantage of this opportunity.