Your article on the “Engg Admission Crisis” highlights a much deeper problem in our education system — the quality of institutions, the relevance of courses, the shortage of seats, and the widening gap between degrees and employment. First, overpopulation is putting increasing pressure on the job market. We already face overconsumption and the depletion of natural resources. Today, there is an imbalance between the number of job seekers and the jobs available. Producing more graduates without creating more employment opportunities will not solve the problem.
Second, many government-run institutions and courses are not meeting the required standards. We proudly speak of successful alumni, but many succeeded despite the system rather than because of it. Today, talented and financially secure students have the option of studying abroad, and many are choosing to leave.This raises serious questions about the functioning of the Education Ministry. Paper leaks and admissions influenced by region, caste and VIP preferences undermine fairness and put our future at risk. From personal experience, my ward secured first rank in the Class 12 board examinations in her college and second rank in the entrance examination for Goa College of Fine Arts. Yet she was denied admission because we have completed only five years of residency in Goa. An Indian citizen was treated as an outsider in her own country. My only option now is to send her abroad. She will contribute to another country’s economy and pay taxes there, while institutions such as Goa College of Fine Arts continue to struggle with poor rankings and limited employment opportunities for many graduates.
We pay taxes to support the Education and Environment Ministries. Citizens deserve to see better outcomes. I urge the Chief Minister and the Education Minister to ensure that government departments build the future and that college principals encourage talent instead of unnecessary bureaucracy. If this situation continues, many young people will be left with few opportunities and forced into low-paying work. Merit must matter more than region, caste or personal connections.
Alwyn Fernandes, Benaulim
