Not everyone is lucky enough to get an un-interrupted education like I got till my Masters degree. Yes, I excelled in education and was lucky to get education right at my door steps. But there are so many people who don’t have direct access to educational institutes, some have to stay away from house, some have to stay away from their country to get education.
In this article I want to convey that – not all are like me- to complete two masters degrees with 25 years of life. After 25 years of life–thing change— hence flexibility in higher education is needed. I propose a credit based educational system, which is flexible for higher education, given the growing needs of adults.
The system in which people are free to complete credits and give exams of the credits at their pace- given some time frame to complete the credits, little more flexible then now. But to get a degree a comprehensive exam has be be cleared and though a slightly more time be given to adults to complete the degrees. Why extra time ? They shall be stress free, live life by choice, decide and move forward.
I have the following points to convey here.
- Not all adults have same conditions, some get sick, some start working, some marry some get disability and some do fall in love. These are just some of the issues, that may stop them for competing for a higher degree.
- It may take time to recover of any of the phases of life so many different students face.
- For some life is all together in a new mode.
- In these cases– competing with other students in class room becomes tough and often stressful.
- Our aim is to produce well educated adults. The education can take time.
- Those who complete education on time like me–are lucky ones. They can join the workforce.
- Let students gain credits per course they complete.
- Give them time to give a comprehensive exam to get the degree, if they decide they want the degree- if they have the reasons.
- Else they can leave the course with the credits earned as a proof, may be a mini degree or a micro degree as per the courses they clear.
- Some really get in a course to just find out–no this is not for me–can such students get lateral entry in other courses ? If yes –then its good~~
- Why not partial flexibility – if they have the reasons? Yes full flexibility is not for all courses, as then people will spend a life time getting a masters degree. We need right framework. And some profession require — planning for stress tests–such as a surgery- a doctor needs to lean to work in stress. As a computer engineer education prepared me to work in timelines to fix software bugs. So timelines are necessary as well. But students should be allowed to take a break when needed, to get some air, or breathe some life in between education. As everyone is different.
- Why not people be allowed to take 6 months break in education – If they have reason? Some even more, everyone’s life is different.
- Marriage is a reason
- Love is another reason
- Sickness is one more reason
- Child birth is one more reason
- There are so many reasons, so many students.
- Why not make flexible degrees for higher education ?
All this was inspired to be by a reports I saw on Television. Some student on exam stress and some top female doctors using infertility treatment, some marrying at age of 37 as they were too busy, problems conceiving. Is the system to blame for such things ? No– but we can make life better for such touch people, who decide to work hard despite all. So can a flexible time frame based educational system make the young professionals a complete human being- not just professional? My answer is YES. What is your answer ?