Access to education has significantly increased over the past six decades in Kashmir. Youth population is highly educated. The literacy rate in the Kashmir valley is 74% for people between the ages of 18 to 35 years- However, higher education is not leading to economic success for Kashmiri youth. Although Kashmir has a large body of highly literate, educated youth, the antiquated education system actually contributes to the issue of unemployment by failing to provide young people with skills and knowledge essential to compete in today’s world. Certainly, conflict and its impact on the local market have held back States’ economy and growth of jobs in the private sector. However, there is a need to also look supply side of the labour market in State and examine the quality and relevance of the education provided. Over the past few decades, the education system in Kashmir has largely focused on preparing students for government jobs and other –for –life careers. Current educational system in the Kashmir valley desperately needs to orient itself to the demand of the 21st century. Development of strong thinking and interpersonal skills, such as creativity, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and strong work ethics. Young people need these skills not only to succeed in the labor market but also to make a healthy transition to adulthood, participate as active members of society and care for families. It also stresses the need to focus on building a range of basic skills and core competencies needed to produce a flexible, adaptable, multi-skilled, and trainable youth cohort prepared for employment in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy and higher education and training. A look at the current educational system in Kashmir reveals that these skills and methods are not emphasized at all. As a result school, colleges and universities in Kashmir are failing to prepare youth for success in the 21st century.
Among the various core subjects and interdisciplinary themes the above –mentioned framework recommends being included as a basic part of education is “Entrepreneurship Literacy”. It also aims to develop enterprise awareness to help youth understand and realize entrepreneurship as a career option. It is widely recognized that including entrepreneurship education from early age encourages and equips students to become entrepreneurs. Here, the “catch them young adage aptly applies. The current education system in Kashmir does not adequately support and promote entrepreneurship. Teachers largely emphasize compliance to the norm as value and rarely encourage entrepreneurial values like independent thinking and acting, risk –taking and self-reliance. Furthermore there is mono-focal emphasis on examinations and tests scores rather than building testing through projects. While entrepreneurship education in college, university or through short trainings programs can build knowledge and skills in young adults, they are less successful in shaping broader attitudes and behaviors’ that motivate young people and influence enterprise culture. So far there is no effort at primary or high secondary levels of education in Kashmir to introduce the philosophy of entrepreneurship and prepare the ground for entrepreneurship as a viable career option. This general lack of introduction and adoption of enterprise education and awareness rising in the formal education system has had an impact on Kashmir’s enterprise culture. “Entrepreneurship education will groom, nurture and mentor youth to not only succeed in the infinite regime of growth but also create a multiplier effect which would boost and motivate ten other people to start up”
(The author has completed PhD from the Scholl of Business and Management of Jaipur National University Jaipur and is presently working as project fellow at Kashmir University on youth Entrepreneurship and education in conflict areas – A study of Higher Education. Views are his own [email protected])
