Collegiate Education at a Crossroads

The 21st century is marked by a massive digital revolution with an impact on all walks of human life, following the emergence of sophisticated technologies such as Edtech platforms, robotics, 3D printing, big data management, unified payments interface or UPI platforms, ChatGPT, artificial intelligence, and technology-driven warfare.

- S. K. SAIDAPUR

Technological developments invariably result in large-scale job disruptions. On the social side, culture, ethics, and values are losing their relevance and waning fast. Consequently, intolerance, disregard for rules and regulations, disrespect for elders, and small crimes are rising, and they are tolerated by society. Governments in power do little to address these issues effectively. The idea of freedom that accompanied the country's independence appears to mean that one can do what he/she likes and encroach upon others' liberty. In a democratic country, individual liberty should not impinge upon fellow beings and rob their liberty. The root cause of most societal ills is poor governance of states. For example, glaring traffic violations that go unnoticed by the benevolent traffic control departments, garbage piling on roadsides, and unauthorized parking of vehicles on roadsides throughout city limits unequivocally certify bad governance. Unfortunately, both literates (varsity degree holders) and illiterates contribute to littering their own surroundings (e.g., roadsides) and public places (cinema halls, etc.). Such never-failing scenarios extol the quality of municipal governance.

There must be something fundamentally wrong with our education. It has failed to inculcate a sense of personal and social hygiene, moral and ethical values, good social behavior, and citizenry—the hallmarks of a civilized society. Indeed, education is a nation's backbone and so it cannot remain immune, indifferent, or a mute spectator to evolving changes in various spheres of human society; be it the environment and climate, productivity, trade and businesses, defense systems, pandemics, job disruptions, etc. In short, education should help build a clean, humane society.