KARACHI:
In Pakistan, most parents and students have a very narrow perspective on career selection. They limit their options to either medical or engineering. Imagine a country full of doctors and engineers; will these two professions be able to do all the work for a country?
Even if students are excelling at other subjects or demonstrate exceptional talent in other fields, most parents do not allow their children to pursue degrees in them. Resultantly, each year, many students end up pursuing degrees in medicine and engineering. However, not everyone performs well, and many feel added burden and stress. Students who fail to get admission to medical or engineering universities experience distress and depression.
The irrational trend of medicine and engineering is harming the future of thousands of students who are unable to realise their full potential. Teachers and parents should not limit the choice of careers and instead encourage students to explore different fields and subjects. If students have the freedom to pick their careers themselves, they will pick careers that interest them and will better showcase their skills, knowledge, and talent. This will also improve the country’s overall potential and ability to innovate and create. Educational institutes should introduce career counselling to inform students about different career options and guide them in pursuing them. Students should be given the opportunity to meet professionals from different fields to better understand what the fields entail and motivate them.
Rehman bin Ali Jan
Guddu
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2022.
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