The education scenario in Assam has witnessed several changes over the years, one of which is the seeming disenchantment with Science, finds Indrani Chakrabarty
“Our education system which should have moved ahead with the contemporary world hasn’t moved and as a result candidates even after obtaining good marks are unemployed”- Alok Buragohain
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Remember when all that everyone would talk about after your class 10 was taking up Science, to pursue courses in Engineering, Medical, Basic Science, Food Science and whatnot? Even Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu told in a press conference in June 2022, “I would encourage the students who passed HSLC this year to come forward and study in Science and Commerce as there’s an increase in the employability scope in these streams.”
Cut to 2024, and how the tables have turned. As per the gazette published by AHSEC on May 9, from 2015 to 2024, the number of students who had appeared for the class 12 examination from the Arts stream ranged from 1.7 to 2 lakh whereas the number of students in Science hovered around the 30,000 plus mark. In 2024 though the number of candidates who appeared in the Class 12 exam from the Science stream was over 54,000, higher than previous years, but still less compared to the Arts stream.
The numbers are even lower in Commerce where the average was 17,000 across Assam.
Earlier in 2022, the Assam government had neglected the Arts stream completely and had stated that “the government will give special focus on providing quality education in those schools that offer science and commerce streams.”
If the case was so, what did the focus yield?
Coming back to this year’s results, 201089 students appeared in the examination from the Arts stream, among which 88,934 were males and 112155 females. On the other hand, 54,552 candidates appeared from the Science stream with 31,953 males and 22,599 females. In the Commerce stream, 17,395 candidates appeared for the examination with 12,344 males and 5051 females.
The pass percentage ratio is also something to take into consideration here. The pass percentage this year was 88.64 with Arts at 88.24, Science at 90.29, Commerce at 88.28 and Vocational at 88.78.
The disparity is not there just in terms of streams but also in terms of male-female ratio.
But why are more and more students leaving the once ‘cult’ stream and shifting to humanities? GPlus tried talking to students, teachers and parents to understand what triggered the change.
Mousumi Das, a teacher in a private school in Guwahati said, “It’s not the same as how it was 20 years ago. There was a time when students were easily pressured or just swayed away by friends or other people. Today’s children are much more aware of what they want in life. Many have clear goals and are constantly striving to pave the way.”
“Earlier, we were only restricted to three fields – either be an Engineer, a Doctor, or just a graduate and start working. Today there are so many diverse fields, that students are more aware of. There is law, social work, food science, animation, architecture,” she further added.
Debabrata Saikia, who teaches Science to higher secondary children, said, “I wouldn’t say that the Science stream doesn’t have enough kids. But yes from what I have observed I can say that there’s a scarcity in terms of employment for the stream. If you are not among the best bunch, it is easier to fall behind and get lost, which in turn affects your chances in employability.”
Saikia further goes on to add, “I feel people here aren’t still aware of the various fields you can choose from even when you are choosing Science stream. Some do, I have several students who are doing or studying something unique, be it forensic science or food science, but still a majority of the section still relates Science with BTech or BSc/MSc.”
Only around 10% of the 15 lakh engineers who graduate every year are likely to find a job due to the tough times in the economy. Also, IT companies are hiring fewer new graduates compared to before, with a decrease of about 35-40% from the previous year, as per a study.
Moupriya, a class 11 Science stream student shared why she chose this stream.
“For me, it was a personal choice. I wasn’t pressured by the society, family or friends. I wanted to study Molecular Biology and this was the right step for me. Similarly, I know quite a few who chose Arts because there are quite a variety of fields available unlike before,” Moupriya said.
“I chose Arts because there aren’t any good Science colleges where I live. I had the necessary marks but I didn’t have the right college, neither did I have the financial condition to go to any other city to study,” Bhaswati Seal, a BA 2nd year student from Karimganj said.
Another student from Badarpur said, “I found Science fascinating but here in this part, most of the Science colleges are running by charging hefty fees but with almost zero teaching involved.”
“People have this preconceived notion that only those who have businesses would choose the Commerce stream, as it teaches you how to manage your finances. It’s not true. Today a CA or a CS earns more than an Engineering graduate. But still, the notion remains. Until and unless we change our mindset, the condition will remain the same,” BCom 3rd year student Aman said.
Talking to GPlus, Alok Buragohain, a renowned scientist and former vice-chancellor of Dibrugarh University said, “There is an increasing focus on STEM education and the fundamental cohort of this combination is Mathematics which is used both in Science and Commerce stream.”
The Commerce syllabus has also changed significantly, now there is data analysis and software application.
Over the years the standard of teaching and learning in Science and Mathematics has gone down, for whatever reason. The students have developed a fear for the subject of Mathematics and Science.
Earlier there used to be two types of sciences, one pure science which included Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and the soft Science which included Botany, Zoology and Chemistry. Now it has been reversed. Today to study Biology you have to be competent in Chemistry and Mathematics too.
“Even today, in Assam, except a few centres, Biology and other Sciences are still being taught in a traditional way and as a result, our students who are studying the modern methods are not able to complete it anywhere in the state except those few centres,” he said.
Apart from a few universities in Assam, others even though are providing degrees their teaching methodology remains traditional, which makes the students miss out on professional competency.
Many students are now questioning, what is the meaning of studying Science if there is no professional opportunity, so they are shifting to Arts. That’s the main reason.
“Our education system which should have moved ahead with the contemporary world hasn’t moved and as a result candidates even after obtaining good marks are unemployed,” he said.
There are very few jobs in the fields of Physics and Chemistry. Assam doesn’t have an industry here for Physics, Chemistry or Biology. Meritorious students are completing their PhDs but they don’t have a job now.
“I have students who I taught in 2004 and now when I take their interview for a job in an institution, they have completed several post-doctoral, because they didn’t get any job, but now they have forgotten their fundamentals turning them incompetent.
“That’s another scenario that’s developing. We are losing out on good meritorious students who after not getting any employment opportunity in the state have moved out and are excelling in their career but for another nation.
“The government is failing to provide them with the opportunity. There can be only so many teaching jobs available.
“Unless we do a complete revamp of the education system, there’s no other way. The education system needs to go hand in hand with industrial and corporate policy.
“We have so much human and natural resources in the state but still we haven’t been able to provide employment opportunities for the youth.
“Top students of Tezpur University in Biotechnology that we have produced are the ones making waves in Europe and America but not here. We don’t provide any opportunity here,” Buragohain said.
