India's education system is failing techies; my opinion
First off, the curriculum is outdated. We're still being taught programming languages and technologies that are no longer relevant in the industry. When I was in college, we spent so much time on C and C++ but barely touched on Python or JavaScript, which are in high demand right now. The industry moves fast, but our education system doesn't keep up.
Another big issue is the lack of practical experience. Most of our education is theory-based. We memorize algorithms and data structures but don't get enough hands-on experience to understand how to apply them in real-world scenarios. I remember cramming for exams and then forgetting everything a week later because I never actually used that knowledge in a practical setting.
The focus on rote learning is another problem. We're trained to score high marks in exams rather than to understand and innovate. This creates a mindset where students are more concerned about grades than actually learning something useful. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people with excellent academic records struggle to solve basic problems at work because they never learned to think critically.
Also, there's a huge gap between academia and industry. Professors often have little to no industry experience, so they can't provide insights into what skills are actually needed in the job market. When I started my first job, I felt like I was starting from scratch because so much of what I learned in college was irrelevant.
Lastly, there's the issue of soft skills. Our education system doesn't emphasize communication, teamwork, or problem-solving skills, which are crucial in the tech industry. I had to learn these on the job, and it was a steep learning curve.
So, in my opinion, yes, India's education system is failing tech professionals. We need a complete overhaul to make it more relevant, practical, and aligned with industry needs. Until that happens, we'll continue to see a gap between what students learn and what they need to succeed in their careers.