Better earning prospects needed to shift students towards neglected disciplines
QUETTA: It is unfortunate to know that one of the academic disciplines pivotal to better and critical understanding of contemporary issues is the most neglected one in Pakistan. The discipline of social sciences or liberal arts is usually the last option of many deciding upon courses or degree programmes for higher education. There are a whole lot of issues like gender-based violence, terrorism, ideological and theological interpretations that have been identified through social sciences, and to deal with these issues and societal development it is important that more people opt for them and engage in research in them.
Study choices, however, are mostly defined by the job market and earning prospects, as social sciences and other similar academic fields are research based, monetary incentives are comparatively lower as compared to the workload it entails. With the exception of a few renowned institutions in major cities, the rest offer degree programmes in management sciences or engineering. However, to divert students towards the disciplines major incentives would be better work and earning prospects. The issue needs prompt attention, as within a span of years the difference between research-based and other jobs will widen even more.
Uzair Hameed
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2017.
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