THE DEPARTMENTS’ OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

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THE DEPARTMENTS’ OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

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The departments’ of social sciences at various public sector universities have been facing a declined enrollment ratio for the last several years. A number of varsities have ended admission entrance test requisite for students. However this opportunity has also failed to attract more students to the discipline.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]majority of students prefer to secure admission in advanced. professional and job-oriented education programs. This phenomenon has led to a crisis where we have just a handful of experienced social scientists in our country. Moreover, concerned authorities and educational institutions are also engaged in the promotion of science and technology. along with other professional disciplines. The most neglected fields or areas of research include regional languages, Islamic history. general history. Islamic studies Arabic. special education. physical education. Persian, political science. philosophy, and others.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7437″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

WHAT ARE THE REASONS

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]To investigate the reasons The Academia Mag interviewed a number of academics who agreed that the admission rates in different disciplines of social sciences have declined over the course of time. However. they believed the revival of these subjects was possible only if authorities undertook tangible measures for uplifting the stature of these disciplines Moreover. a few of the academics were of the few that these initiatives could possibly create more job opportunities and could pave the way for the appointment of more competent teachers at different varsities. Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University. Lyari, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Akhtar Baloch said that “the worst thing was that all those students who can’t get admission in the subjects of their choice. they get admissions in social sciences Usually they consider themselves unsuccessful from day one of their studies There are few students who want admission in social sciences by choice”. he said. During the 80s. arts disciplines had a special market value. where. at least five to six foreign qualified professors used to teach at different public sector universities ‘There is a lack of qualified social scientists in the society because our educational institutions are completely infertile in producing social experts’. Baloch added. He suggested the authorities to encourage foreign scholarships for higher studies and ensure the hiring of at least six qualified PhDs in each department of social sciences, as only ‘then we can hope for better results’ Likewise. Dr Erfan Aziz. faculty member at the Federal Urdu University of Arts. Sciences said: ‘Over the years government has focused on promoting science and technology resultantly jobs in those are available in big number. while the area comes under the social sciences remained almost blurred. This is why students prefer science subjects rather than studying arts subjects °The importance of studying social sciences can’t be subverted because these subjects give us direction on how to improve our societies. When we study the social sciences, we explore more and more knowledge about human behavior. social harmony, peace and other aspects important aspects of the societies Also, we prepare generations and make them able to look into the impacts of their decisions along with formulating long-term policies for their societies”. If the government paid attention to a practical and modem cultural policy for the country. only then it would be able to attract more students to social sciences, he suggested[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

PRACTICAL APPROACH

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Prof Dr Nasreen Aslam Shah, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Karachi University was of the view that adoption of practical approaches to the discipline of social sciences can improve the situation. She further added the issue of job creation can be resolved only through public-private partnerships She was of the view that only a ‘reformed mechanism of job creation could be translated into qualitative results depicting different improvements in the society’. “When the results of such measures become visible. then a trend will emerge which will increase the employment opportunities for social science graduates. This will also facilitate in eliminating myth that social sciences are not practicable,’ she said. Dr Nasreen said the subjects of social science should be made a significant part of the curriculum of all academic fields. The purpose of this is to inculcate social values in the students and enable them to respect the rights of their co-workers which will also make them aware of their own rights and duties ‘There is also a dire need to revise the syllabi of social science subjects to make them relevant to prevailing market demand and socio-economic structure. This would be another attraction for students to social sciences.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The importance of studying social sciences can’t be subverted because these subjects give us direction on how to improve our societies.

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THE ARTS SUBJECTS LACK ‘QUALITY’

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]There is no valid reason of why students don’t prefer to get themselves enrolled in different disciplines of social science and prefer to choose professional degree programs instead. As far as the varsities are concerned, it’s almost impossible for any institute to halt literature, humanities, and other academic programs which are directly related to the society. was said by Prof Dr. Kamal Haider. Director Admissions at Federal Urclu University of Arts, Sciences (FUUAST). However, in today’s era, students are more alert to the implications of their education or field of research on their chances of securing employment They want to acquire jobs soon after the completion of their studies which might be the only reason behind the shifting trend. He said a majority of degree-awarding institutions are less concerned about upgrading their syllabus. They are careless about adopting factual strategies because most of them offer no comparative studies programs in arts subjects. Even though, Public Services Commission examinations need competent graduates. particularly from the field of humanities and arts[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7438″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

VIEWPOINT OF STUDENTS

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During the interviews, many students were of the view that the main reason behind the low enrollment ratio in different disciplines of social sciences is the unrevised course outlines which bear no fruit when they complete their studies. They also lamented that the job market demands graduates of science subjects. However, some students who were enrolled in various subjects of social sciences revealed that they secured admission in order to acquire additional qualification, while a few of them said they wanted degrees to get promotion in government-run offices. 1 had secured admission in the department of history. My aim was to learn about the past but when I think about my future. I become frustrated’, said Muhammad Danish, a student of Karachi University. ‘In our society historians have no attractive employment opportunities apart from selective teaching jobs I will be very lucky if I become a teacher after completion of my BS programmes. she said. Nida Hassan, a student of political science at FUUAST expressed the same; No one knows what he will be doing in future. But one can at least struggle to be something in life”. She opined education is not a means of earning but plays a vital role in developing good human values, putting societies back on the right track[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]