On this day 36 years ago I stepped into St. Joseph's to begin a long and eventful career! Personally and professionally the college helped me to grow - the management, staff, students and alumni have given me their whole hearted support and endorsement - for which I am truly grateful.
The sea change that has occurred in Higher Education scenario is truly mind boggling. The objective then was to educate young women and empower them to be useful citizens of the community and nation. The teachers used all their abilities and capacities to do just that. The students mostly hailed from the upper strata of society which valued education for education sake and knew that it improved the quality of life.
The objective now is to make the women more employable and marketable. Neither the authorities nor the parents are interested in the welfare of the youth. Research, participation in extra and co-curricular activities, campus interview, placement record of the college, infrastructure and so on - these are the paraphernalia about which all the stake holders worry. No one cares if in the process there is no improvement in the knowledge quotient of the youth, who hail from the first generation learners with no background of intellectual activities. What is significant however is that there is a thirst for knowledge but the priorities decided by authorities are depriving the beneficiaries of their rights to proper education defined as any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. Education especially at college level has become meaningless ritual of course completion and succeeding in examination with no change taking place in the minds or character of the youth.
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