This is with reference to the news report 'Goa achieves historic goal, declared fully literate' (TGE, May 31). Achieving 100% literacy in the state is indeed a proud achievement for the Goa govt, and an important milestone crossed after 38 years of statehood.
Education, as we know, plays an important role in the lives of individuals and career advancement, with prospects of a bright future and job opportunities. The bitter irony, however, is that the unemployment rate in Goa is one of the highest in the country, where even the highly qualified are either jobless or forced to take up menial jobs for a livelihood.
The other alternative is to leave the country for jobs in foreign countries — a trend which is now on the rise. What a shame, to say the least. It is therefore time to do a re-think on our educational system and priorities, and focus more on job-oriented courses and apprenticeships in companies, instead of planning to set up new universities and degree colleges where the number of students is fast dwindling, for lack of job opportunities.
