Studying the humanities comes with its share of preconceived notions, but things are slowly changing…
Swati Salunkhe has been an education counsellor for 20 years and she finds it hard to remember even one student who approached her for counselling on pursuing humanities. “On the contrary, I’ve had parents who have approached me to dissuade their child from pursuing such courses. In fact, even when I think the child is genuinely interested in the humanities and will do well in this field, they disagree,” she grimaces. However, Salunkhe isn’t surprised. “It has been this way for a very long time. It was like this even when we were students!”
The beginnings of a bias
The problem begins in schools and homes where science and maths are given precedence over other subjects.
“There is an obsession around engineering and medical entrance exams after school, which surpasses everything else. Students will be studying for and attending IIT or NEET coaching classes, solving paper after paper in the sciences or maths. The media will be full of stories around these exams. Students are made to believe that studying these subjects is a sure shot formula for success,” says Salunkhe.
Renowned educationist Dr. Minoti Chatterjee, former Principal of Delhi University’s Kamla Nehru College, adds, “I’ve seen so many parents who want their child to become a doctor or engineer and pursue this goal with extreme focus and singlemindedness. No one talks the same way about having their child study subjects like economics, sociology or political science.”
Lack of understanding
The problem is rooted in the fact that there is a lack of understanding around the humanities.
Denne historien er fra March 2019-utgaven av Careers 360.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 2019-utgaven av Careers 360.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The 50 colleges in 5 countries where most Indians go for MBBS abroad
Data on countries and colleges from the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) 2022 - the latest available - shows that most Indians who completed medical degrees abroad and wrote the FMGE went to five countries.
Foreign medical colleges: Look before you leap
A close look at foreign medical colleges that thousands of Indians have graduated from shows that many are unaccredited, don’t have hospitals or even their own websites
'Either I clear FMGE or leave the country'
After spending lakhs on MBBS degrees abroad, thousands spend years trying to clear the FMGE. That is the only option for Indian graduates of foreign medical colleges to build a career in India
Why hundreds of nursing graduates leave India each year
There has been an increase in nursing institutes over the past two decades but policy gaps, lax regulations, poor pay and opportunities are pushing a large number of nursing staff to seek opportunities abroad
In Kashmir, why NEET and JEE candidates flock to private reading halls to prepare for exams
These are accessible round-the-clock, even on public holidays, have private cabins and booths, kitchen, discussion area and some, even places for napping
Battling despair and depression in medical school
Long hours, bullying, lack of support make a difficult programme tougher for medical students. They hope for clear guidelines from the NMC
This father-daughter duo uncovered a scam in NEET admissions in West Bengal
Several generalcategory students had secured admission in medical colleges with forged ST certificates. Ishita Soren spotted the names, and her father followed up
'Forced to take up bonded labour
There's massive resistance to a state policy in Karnataka that requires even private medical college graduates to do one year's mandatory rural service
‘A routine circus': PG medical students lobby, move court to get stipends
Despite NMC orders, many medical colleges still seriously underpay resident doctors and threaten them into silence. In government colleges, stipends can be delayed for months
Why Mizoram wants centre to take over its only medical college
Mizoram got its first state medical college in 2018. In 2023, it asked the union government to take over. Mixed up in this are questions of funding, MBBS seat distribution
