Gap Between Students And Educational Institutions

Kavitta B Bedi Sep 19, 2021

Education is the birthright of every human being. A student’s education plays a vital role in paving the way for career and future success. Education is not merely about teaching principles and theories; it contributes towards the overall development of a student, preparing him or her to be fierce and strong while facing the world. However, there exist several gaps between students and educational institutions that may deprive deserving students of their right to a proper education.

Gaps In The Identification And Selection Of Students

The Indian education system, albeit a robust one, has always pushed students to focus on scores and compete against each other to score the highest grades or marks on exams. When applying for higher studies as well, the student identification and selection process involve rigorous filtration based on school marks, test scores, college essays, and application forms. The students who can make it past the cut-off or threshold get admission, while the rest have to look for alternative schools.

Higher cut-offs for admission into high schools and universities do not necessarily encourage students to become smarter or more learned. They, in fact, drive the student to memorize better to score higher marks, while not necessarily understanding or engaging with the material. The high cutoff for marks makes the selection process highly competitive and unhealthy, depriving many students of a chance at quality education simply because they were short of a few marks.

In such a system, students do not get the opportunity to showcase their X-factor, or the unique qualities and capabilities they can bring to the table. The selection is done based on a purely academic or testing basis, wherein the ones with the best scores join the club.

Fortunately, there are platforms and resources like LinkedIn or the digital interview platform Xtraview, which give students the opportunity to showcase who they are beyond their grades and test scores, whether through highlighting their experiences or allowing them to submit recorded interviews alongside their written applications.

Gaps In Preparing Students With The Communication Skills Critical For Real-World Success

Several outstanding scholars with above-average intellect and capabilities sometimes fall behind because they lack communication skills. To prepare for the real world and achieve success, every student must have the presence of mind, confidence, and efficient communication skills.

India has the largest number of unemployable youth currently. You may ask, why?

The answer is that more than half the students who successfully graduate from engineering, medical, and other colleges do not have the skills it takes to be employed successfully. They could make it through the written exams by memorizing, but significantly lacked other crucial skills like communication and practical application of knowledge.
The Indian education system stresses more on an independent way of learning and growing, rather than encouraging teamwork and the development of interpersonal skills. Effective communication in front of an audience, in front of an interviewer, or with your teammates is the only way to grow in the real world.

Nowadays, nearly every interaction, be it with professors, colleagues, customers, or supervisors, has moved online. Therefore, every student must be well-equipped with the right tools needed for effective and proper communication, whether online or in-person.

Developing a student’s public speaking skills and confidence is a crucial element of face-to-face interactions, whether it is for an interview to get into college as a student, or to approach dignitaries and important delegates and corporates much later in life.

In addition to the skilling offered by universities, students can also proactively upgrade their skills by seeking out communication courses and workshops. When choosing a workshop, it’s important to ensure that it is led by qualified experts, that it includes both online and offline communications, and that it offers hands-on practice, rather than just theory. After all, preparing with a mock interview gives students the opportunity to put their learning into practice and further refine their skills.

Bridging the gap between students and educational institutions requires a proactive approach from both parties. In so doing, students will be prepared to present their best selves through the manner of interviews and face-to-face interactions. Similarly, educational institutions can upgrade their traditional method of student selection and broaden their scope of instruction, to better equip their graduates with the skills to succeed in today’s competitive and dynamic workforce.