An Untold Saga

The IT education industry is in turmoil.The US economic slowdown and the

consequent slow down in Indian IT have created substantial downslides in job

opportunities. The failure of a few entrants in a sector with questionable

models has also further maligned the industry. The media which had found the IT

industry a panacea for all the ills in the Indian economy, has now suddenly made

a strong backlash, particularly against the IT education industry, It is

pertinent, in this context to review the present scenario and do a reality

check.

The IT education industry in the non-formal sector is about two decades old

now. Led by innovators such as NIIT and APTECH, it also includes other

established players as STG, SSI, Tata Infotech and CMC. Contributing

significantly to the growth of the software development sector in the country,

it is the first vocational training segment in the organized sector and still,

its dominant sector. It contributes in a major way to entrepreneurial

development as also employment generation. It trains five major segments.

Retraining of software development professionals in new technologies,

providing training to work force in non-IT industries in IT, preparing a large

base of students in non-professional courses like under-graduates and graduates

within general education for entry into IT and related sectors, training

students undertaking professional courses such as engineering, BCA and MCA, and

those looking to upgrading their knowledge. Lastly, it also trains independent

professionals and housewives in basic IT skills.

In a country like India, where vocational education is really limited to the

private sector, the IT education industry has created such a business model.

Further, it has proved its robustness in several other countries. The present

slowdown in IT has also created certain doubts about the validity of this model

of training for the third segment, i.e. the pool of students undertaking general

courses in under graduation and post graduation streams. This has happened

partly on account of the anticipated slow down in employment opportunities as

also undue high expectation for transforming the life-styles of students.

Objectively speaking, computer institutes train these students mostly for entry

level work either as a software developer, data base administrator, network

administrator. There are also doubts about the quality of education imparted.

*** The fact is, most of the frontline institutions make an effort to enable

their students to achieve international certification such as Microsoft’s MCSE,

Sun Java, Oracle, Lotus, Novell, Sun Solaris and CCNA etc. Their curriculum is

often designed to compete effectively with the curriculum of international

players. Presently, expenses will, in all probability, outstrip revenues and

deny the economy a chance to regain momentum specially, with the US economy’s

link to the world economy.

However, there are undeniable facts.

Even as communication with loved ones in the US is proving

nightmarish, e-mail has been a saviour. Certain web sites are understood to be

constantly keeping their subscribers across the globe updated on US

developments. A convincing proof that IT is here to stay and needed even in the

most difficult times. To conclude that the industry’s prospects are gloomy

would be most erroneous. The present thrust in IT would be to help industries

from succumbing to the current crisis. Of this there is no doubt–the IT

industry is bound to play a crucial role in rebuilding our decelerated and

threatened economy.

Dr Suresh Nanda is chief executive officer, STG

International