Chaotic differences between degree, hobby and livelihood of today’s youth

Reported by Yu Lwin Soe Translated and Edited by MYA

In a state of complete confusion and lack of order, the Myanmar youth is experiencing the chaotic differences between the degrees they received from the relevant Universities that they had enrolled and the actual hobbies coming from the inner hearts, according to the faculty members. In the higher learning, normally the students opted to choose the degree and diploma contemplating on the fact to secure job in the future. Therefore, some universities accept only the limited number of mstudents by grading the marks the applicants received at the Matriculation Examinations. A Professor from Yangon University said, “Most of the students preferred to enroll at Myanmar Maritime University, Economic Institutes and Medical Institutes as they have good opportunity in secure jobs for their careers. That is why some of the universities and colleges have very less students although it is functioning.”  All the students have to submit applications to the relevant colleges and universities depending on the marks that they acquired at the Matriculation Examinations. Under the circumstances, some of the students are not in a position to apply at the universities that they preferred according to their hobbies, but to join other universities that they are entitled based on their examination marks. They have no alternative but to enroll to that university. In some other cases, the parents urged them to study at certain universities rather than the preference of the students. A woman who received degree in ASEAN Studies in 2008 said, “Some of my friends and me received degree in ASEAN Studies. No department is offering job for that degree. Now I am working for marketing promoter of a company. There are many persons like us. We had acquired a degree on a certain subject and taken up the job at other different career. We could not apply and use what we have learned. There is no environment where we could utilize what we have been trained for.” As the actual utility and job requirements for the science degree holders in Physics and Chemistry subjects as well as arts degree holders in History, Geography, Myanmarsar and Psychology subjects have very little scope in the domestic job market, these subjects are likely to diminish or totally fade away in the future, according to a professor from Yangon University. At a time when the students are opting for their future career and choosing a university for higher education after passing the Matriculation Examination, more educational consultation services are needed in the country, remarked education consultant U Aung Kyaw Sann of Crown Education Consultancy.