Friday 4 March 2016

"Musical skill development for productive employment"

Hiranmayee Das Gogoi

Faculty of Music. Dibrugarh University
Skilled Based Education
8 January 2016

 


                                                          

The present day education system is driven by the motive of educating the students more on facts and theory based education, instead of the much required skill based education. Every job   requires a unique skill set and in order to have a successful career, a person must develop that particular skill set. Our present day educational system lacks on that very aspect. This Seminar paper is based on an analytical study with survey of skill based education and knowledge based education. If we analyse the different system of education then, comes to know about two different mode of education system. One is vocational education and the other is book worm study system. Nowadays everyone face the problem that a person is knowledgeable with many degree of university but not skilled enough to do a particular job. One important thing is that the root of skill base education is bitter but the fruit is sweet. Present generation are generally taught how to think but they should learn what to think and what should develop for a better job. In a class, all students may not be excellent in all their domain of subjects. So the weaker students should encourage for vocational training to develop skills. The objective of this paper is to enlighten on some vocational subject and especially on music for productive employment.

 

Objectives:

1.  To know the differences between knowledge based education and skill based education.

2. To establish that vocational education can produce skilful generation for productive employment.

3. To explore that, the skill on music has good opportunity for employment.


Literary review:
 "Education has ever been looked at Indian culture as a holistic effort since time immemorial. The country has been a major seat of learning for centuries. Its current state presents a much-varied picture. While the country has some of the best educational institutions in the world, it is also dealing with serious challenges in almost all sectors of education and is still far away from hundred per cent literacy. As the nation's development--economic, social, technological, cultural and spiritual -- is ensured through education, all the crucial issues should be carefully sorted out with utmost academic neutrality.[i]

The above lines have been quote from the book "Contemporary Issues in Modern Indian Education" by the famous educationist Shankar Mukherjee. A lot of books are available on this topic, which help in analysing the imbalance between education system and productive employment.

Nowadays music can be considered as a good vocational subject. There are plenty of musicians who possess  a wonderful voice or can play an instrument, but simply having a nice voice or being able to play an instrument will not be enough to help them achieve success in this extremely competitive job market. Gharanas Music schools and Sattras offer classes and courses to help musicians to earn a certificate, diploma, or degree and turn their natural talent into something extraordinary...a skill.
To be considered for a good-paying job in the music industry, musicians should make sure to get the training that only an accredited music school can provide. Courses are designed to help fine-tune their talent and can also certify the success of their training with the help of a certificate, diploma, or degree. These will surely provide the musicians with a kick start in their career and will also help them a lot in the coming future of their bright career. There are lot of books and articles available on other vocational trainings but it is difficult to find a book based on musical vocation. "Gurumukhi Vidya", a term well suited to describe musical vocation which means without a proper teacher, this skill is impossible to develop or train up. So this paper wants to enlighten you about the vocation as well as the  it’s learning process.
Methodology:
 Survey and analytical methods are used to establish these objectives.

Introduction to knowledge based and skill base education:
There are many ways that students can learn at school or in other similar institutions. Knowledge based learning is one of the methods of learning that teachers and education departments employ in order to provide their students with the best study materials possible. The study materials are basically books approved by education department. On the other hand, the vocational training programs are to be promoted in developing skills in a particular subject in practical. This may include secretarial practices, computer operator and programme assistant, library assistant, architectural draughtsman ship, desktop publishing, electrical technician, electronics mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, plumbing, tailoring and dress making, performing arts, hair and skin care, fruit and vegetable preservation programs, etc.
 People need vocational training according to their ability and interest:
The primary education system of India is structured in informative way. All the text books are full of information and student has to memorise those to clear the examination .It is called the knowledge base education. Here all the information printed in books and the effort of teachers and students together is to score better and better in the examination. Every year, various colleges churn out millions of graduates who do not have the specific skill sets required by the market. Which results unemployed graduates and on the other hand there is a huge shortage of skilled workers. Besides a lop-sided curriculum, our primary education has been neglected which has led to a vacuum in the basic literacy standards. As a result colleges turn out plain and simple graduates and postgraduates who are absolutely unemployable when they come out of their colleges. Hence, instead of increasing the numbers of colleges for general studies, it would be better to introduce more of vocational centres and institutes for the large number of children coming out of schools.
The result of our survey in Dibrugarh and Duliajan employment exchange for unemployed card holder was as follows:-
In Dibrugarh in the year 2014 total fresh card holder up to graduate were 3953. Ninety percent of them are simple B.A. In this year renewed by seventy percent and newly added about 1500.

Educational Qualification

Total Unemployed

B.A

850

B.Com

205

ITI

95

B.E

189

In Duliajan employment exchange in the year 2014, total fresh card holder was 1339 (up to graduate); degrees are as follows








In the year 2015 up to August about 3800 new names are registered in Duliajan and about thousand renewed from previous year. Result is a huge no of unemployed degree holder.
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 It is observed that there is no reason to support current school system and there is a question mark on its success on productive employment. An intelligent student is comfortable in reading books, can also study practically. A student who learns better practically, will not be able to study properly just by reading. So, education should be skill based rather than knowledge based so that it will be easy for all students to study faster and can understand better.

Some Best Quotations on Skill Development:

1. The roots of vocational education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. (Anonymous)

2. Education is more important but skill is most important!! (Anonymous)

3. Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”(Anonymous)

As the all vocational studies have their own institutions like through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), cottage industry etc, vocation of music also has institution called Gharana in respect to North India and Sattra in respect to Assam

There is a rich tradition of Gharanas and Sattras in classical music. The music Gharanas are also called styles. These schools or Gharanas have their basis in the traditional mode of musical training and education. Every Gharana has its own distinct features. The main area of difference between other institution and Gharanas is the manner in which the skill is developed. The concept of a Guru- Shishya leads to the development of Gharanas. The Gharanas emerge from the creative style of a genius, who gives existing structures a totally new approach, form and interpretation. The new approach, form and interpretation apply to include the tone of the voice, the pitch, the inflexions and the intonations, and the specific application of the various nuances. Sattras of Assam also follow Guru-Shishya tradition to develop Sankaradeva's musical tradition. In Assam Gayan (singer) from Sattras are given highest position as trained Borgeet singer and teacher. This is because; from the early child hood they practice for developing their singing skill. Ninety percent of professor for Hindustani vocal music come from different Gharana. In film industry, mobile theatre, radio, television and also for live cultural programme, only skilful artist are getting opportunity.

So in schools or colleges the entire educational system has to be built in a manner that will guarantee to the children a basic livelihood, once they come out after completing their education. Once the students get training in musical skill, their main aim of getting employment will be fulfilled. It will be good for the country also, for the masses of the interested will be in a position to join the mainstream of nation building as soon as they come out of their education outfit 

Conclusion:

The entire educational system has to be built in a manner that will guarantee to the children a basic livelihood, once they come out after completing their education. Provide information through books is the knowledge education, and practice practically on a particular domain of subject is skill based education. For example ITI ,medical, engineering, secretarial practices, computer operator and programme assistant, library assistant, desktop publishing, electrical technician, mechanic, plumbing, tailoring, designers, hair and skin care and so on are skill based education. College education for B.A and B.Com degrees are the example of knowledge based education.

 Today, the economy’s the world over are changing into knowledge based economies. This changing face of technology the world over requires an individual to be specialized in a particular skill. Only a person who is expert in a particular field can get a good job. Vocational education training institutes impart specialized and practical knowledge to a person and help them become independent at a particular age. Vocational education training can be provided for a number of courses like health, technical, art, administration and other courses. These subjects can be further classified into specialized courses. For example, health can be divided into massage therapy, dieticians, and nutritionist. Any person can select any course of his choice and inclinations.

 Vocational training in music should be such that even working people can join the course, and even select the timings as per their convenience and nature of job. The vocational institutes should also allow the students to study online and attend either evening or morning classes. Moreover, financial aid should also be provided to students who are economically weak. For example interested house wives  can try to develop skill in vocal music and instrumental in their free time.

The faculty of musical education training institutes should be highly experienced and be able to impart practical knowledge to their students. As a result the students can be able to have a real life and practical experience of Gharana’s music. Film industry, radio, T.V channels, mobile theatre of Assam, school teaching etc are the main sources of employment for music students.   The students may also be provided with internships and stipend for motivation to perform better and excel in their jobs. Doing their job under the supervision of an expert would be a great learning experience for them as it would help them perform better in their job. For working professionals, it would be a way to hone their skills while making money. The society will be in balance when productivity can be enhanced by education.




Works Cited

1. Durpis , A.M (1972)
                       Philosophy of Education in Historical Perspective
                                      New Delhi: Thomas Press.
2.  Mukherjee, Shankar (2007)
                   Contemporary issues in Modern Indian Education
                               Shankar Mukherjee,Vedam Books
3. Sodhi , T.S and Suri Aruna (1998)
                        Philosophical and Sociological Foundation of Education
                                      Patiala : Bawa Publication.
                                   

3.  Kumar Krishanan ,Dinesh (2012)

 

             Contemporary Issues in Indian Education 


4. Sodhi , T.S and Suri Aruna (1998)
                        Philosophical and Sociological Foundation of Education
                                      Patiala : Bawa Publication
  
  5. Sharma , Anita (2010)
               Prachin Sangitik Paramparaye Abang Dhrupad Shaili - Ek Adhyayan
                                    Roshan Offset Printers
                       



[i] Contemporary issues in Modern Indian Education: Shankar Mukherjee