I play the game, I don't make the rules

This post relates to an FB post by Lim Hwah Beng that was shared in our whatsapp group. One person disagrees with him painting the picture of the "ease" of getting (or producing) PhDs; however another person who had interviewed PhD candidates for a job post agrees (that some PhD holders seemed incompetent). Who is right?

For me this issue relates to "academic/ education inflation". Sir Ken Robinson talked about this in his TEDTalk way back in 2006, and most of the content STILL rings true today.

Personally I think in Asian countries, this is even truer. Qualifications is everything. Only recently have we started to recognise informal learning, on-the-job learning, and the variety of TVET courses. Have we got a long way to go? YOU BET!

In relation to the FB post, I would probably say that this issue is prevalent because we put a premium on PhD: we need more and more and more PhD holders to increase our university ranking; to be a Head of School you must have a "Dr" in front of your name; to have promotions etc the PhD is key. Hence the scramble for PhDs.

However for me, it is more important to identify the CONTRIBUTION of a person. He/ She could have a PhD; or Masters; or a Degree; or a Diploma or High School certificate; or nothing at all however he/ she is a good parent. That counts for a LOT. We need more good parents to raise good, respectful children. There are also those individuals who have learning difficulties, because their brains are wired differently from us 'normal' people: what then? what is their hope for the future?

Education is never cut and dry. There are courses (in my view) that we should be allowed to choose. The cost of education is sky high and the investment + ROI has to be justified. The employment market is also not that great and many graduates have in fact hopped on to the gig economy.

What is the plan for the future? There are all kinds of people, there are all kinds of work, there are many ways to earn a decent income. Let's not discriminate on the basis of higher vs lower education, because every human has a right to make something of himself/ herself.

Yes the education quality needs to improve. Some PhD holders may be questionable, but then again, i believe in justice and karma and all that. Investigate if you're hiring. Drill them on concepts. Have a rigorous selection process, why don't you? Let them answer for it. 

The post is shared below, for those who do not have FB