Obsession With Certificates?

Is a teacher’s knowledge assessed by the number of certificates he or she possesses?

- Albert P'rayan

A year ago, a retired professor I have known, for over two decades, registered for a three-day conference and attended all the plenary and some paper-presentation sessions. When I asked him why he attended the conference, he said, “I love attending conferences. I enjoy updating my knowledge.” When a volunteer at the reception desk asked him to write his full name and the institute he belonged to, he asked her why such details were required. She said, “I need the details so that I can prepare a certificate for you.” He replied, “Certificate? What is it for? I don’t need a certificate. I don’t have the habit of collecting certificates.”

About two months ago, I asked a few of my friends in academia to attend a literary festival organised by a reputed newspaper group. One of them asked me whether she would get a certificate for attending the event. I replied to her, “This event is attended by hundreds of people who love acquiring and sharing new knowledge and ideas. Every year, the event attracts participants across the country. The attendees are not lovers of certificates but lovers of knowledge.” She replied back saying, “No certificate? Then no participation.”