While the Principal of the University of the West Indies Open Campus laments low registration in tertiary institutions of learning and the government’s objective is a degree student in every home, I am making a plea for the practical.
Let me begin by saying that I am not decrying learning. What I am questioning is the current obsession with academic qualifications. A degree is not the only qualification, nor is it necessarily the most useful one in the real world. At this point in time Dominica desperately needs a fully skilled workforce.
You will note that I state “fully skilled” rather than “semi-skilled”. All too often the latter passes for the former.
While it is accepted that a Master’s Degree entails no less than a five year course of study, there is the perception that a skill can be learnt in six weeks or six months. In fact, learning a skill takes longer than studying for a degree. A six year indentured apprenticeship is just the beginning.
There is also the misconception that skilled work demands less intellect and hence, the recommended career choice for the less bright student. But intellect alone is not the deciding factor. A recent study that accessed the all-round ability required for different trades and professions, found that the highly skilled mechanical engineer came out above the brain surgeon.
This is not to say that the surgeon is not skilled. Thankfully, a fundamental requirement for the medical profession is practical hands-on experience on the wards. As with all professions, a certificate is not enough. In my engineering apprenticeship days you were not allowed to set foot in the drawing office until you had gained at least seven years practical experience on the shop floor. Nowadays, a graduate that would not know a spanner if one fell on his head goes straight from college to the drawing board.
Likewise, I have found salesmen manning market stalls more persuasive than Marketing Managers. Their captivating sales patter cannot be taught in college. In terms of Customer Relations, I would nominate a lady who works behind the counter at a Roseau bread shop in preference to the Executive high on the corporate ladder. As a painter and sculpture, I declared myself as an artist on the pavements of France. I have never spent a day at Art College, but then again, neither did any of the great artists from the past.
I have a profound respect for the skilled man at his workbench. Not only did these men teach me engineering and carpentry, they also instilled in me a love for poetry, music and literature. Let us not forget that the world’s built heritage was the work of carpenters and masons. The world of academia tends to focus on specialization, whereas a skilled and intuitive person is remarkably adaptable. Creativity is all embracing and thrives on doing rather than theorizing.
Perhaps it was to stress the value of the practical that Jesus came into this world as a carpenter. However, if for his second coming he chooses Dominica, his want of academic qualifications may be frowned upon!
Hear! Hear! Hear! A very good one, Roger.
I find this to be circular reasoning. When I was a mechanic, I looked at the mechanic for about three years before I could touch a spanner or tighten anything other than a bolt on a tire. Then I took a corresponding course and understood the theoretical aspect of the four stroke engine. Do you really believe at my stage as a apprentice I could have built a four stroke engine, or the mechanical engineer who studied at a university level? Why should we wait for a apprentice to learn how to rebuild a engine after seven years when he/she could go to a training program, do the hands on work at the training and come out with the capacity to work? Why should I wait for an architect to draw a plan in six months when AutoCAD can be used to do it in much less time and with greater efficiency. We all should embrace the new way of thinking that is provided by the application of technology. Each discipline has it merits and let us embrace all.
Shaka Zulu:
Thank you for the excellent combination of common sense and wisdom in your comment.
Some people have great skills and ability. In their field they could be the best of the best. But they do nothing with what God has given them. They need a good kick in the butt to get them going. I sometimes say to my wife “If only they would apply themselves.”
How can we best help people like this without troubling them?
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
This is so apt and indeed splendidly presented in terms that is easily understood to any reader. THANKS MUCH. I take that heed and so should all of us. Being well rounded, innovative and visionary with life skill sets is that which is needed
This is an excellent comment and needs to be taken seriously.
First, allow me to say I encourage academic education. I have two grandchildren. My granddaughter is going to university this fall to study for a doctorate. My grandson a couple years behind her is thinking of engineering. It makes me happy to see Dominican young people pursuing degrees.
However, a degree does not guarantee a job. I have heard of taxi drivers in both Canada and the U.S.A. with Ph.D.s. I personally met two professional engineers who were unemployed. In my home city (don’t laugh) I have to drive to the next city 25 miles away to get a shoe repair man!
Not only are the skilled trades needed. My observation tells me these skilled tradesmen (and women) are doing very well for themselves.
What is needed is better career counselling to help students evaluate their abilities and decide what they would be happy doing. They should have help getting there. We also need more good vocational…
We need good vocational (trade) schools. There are some in Canada in the cities but they do not receive nearly enough recognition and are not properly promoted. Believe it or not some get in a rush to broaden
their horizons and become “degree granting institutions”. Ryerson in Toronto (once a great trade school) is now Ryerson University.
The idea that some people who are “just a little slow” navigate towards the trades is absolutely untrue and held only by the uninformed. My dad was a painter and decorator. He was hired by the City of Orillia to do city jobs, and by big businesses (supermarkets and car dealerships). Much of his work was repeat business. When I got up for school in the mornings at 8 A.M. he was already gone to work till 6 P.M., he worked some evenings, and Saturdays. What a work ethic that man had!
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Roger i like your piece. I would like to add all human have gifts and talents and given the right environment these gitfs or talents will bloom. Its not a matter of skills are better than academia but a matter of marrying the two to form a perfect union in the best environment. Someone may be higly skilled but lacks any business sense. Like in the music industry you have a great writer who cannot sing to save his or her life and someone with a voice from heaven but cannot write to save his/her life. The two may come together and its unbelievable. So you get my point. Its about people appreciating thier skills, gifts, and limitations, and finding the best union and environment to flourish. There is and old parable two heads are better than one and the collection and diversity of talents used wisely is whats important. Skills and academia are interdependent.
Dominica is in need of a school to teach electricity,cooking whether it is to make cake or bread,sewing,brick laying,house building,craft whether it is with wood or clothe ,nursing as proper careers for adults ,babies or young children.We are so far behind time ,if we cannot take the lead in order to be able to be self sufficient ,we in Dominica will remain as back ward as it is…Another very important thing that should be part of the system in every work place is the code of secrecy where employees should never tell the public what is happening in the work place because to often this is happening in Dominica especially from health workers and worker in finance..
In any job the worker may come into possession of certain information pertaining to the client, his family, other workers on the site, or the job itself that is nobody else’s business. This should be kept confidential and not shared with another person.
Not only doctors ,lawyers, pastors, and counselors should keep the business of the people they serve
confidential. I believe this applies to any one of us who may be doing work where somebody may confide in us regarding a personal matter. It is a matter of good ethics that applies in any profession, trade, or career. I can see where it is especially important in health care or financial services. When this is violated in HEALTH CARE or FINANCES I would report it to the person’s superior.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (Pastoral Counselor Certificate)