For the sake of my students, I hope proposal for IIMs to admit more students is passed
With HRD minister Prakash Javadekar asking IIM directors to consider doubling the intake of IIMs, a much needed corrective in India's management education may be in the offing.
Currently, about 10,000 students are admitted to the 19 IIMs every year, a small fraction of the over two lakh candidates who appear for CAT, the admission test for the IIMs, and the many others who end up attending private business schools that do not consider CAT scores for admission.
As a trainer for CAT aspirants, I witness first-hand the anxieties that stem from these skewed figures. The majority of aspirants are freshers, those who have little to no work experience. Even the best among them must keep the midnight oil burning if they are to make it to the coveted 99th percentile that is a prerequisite for admission to the top IIMs.
CAT this year will be on December 4, and as the date approaches, I observe a repeated annual ritual. There is a renewed focus among students. Some of them, usually prone to giggling and sharing sweet-nothings in classroom, are suddenly serious and less playful.
Others have turned more vocal, asking severe questions and hoping their renewed aggression will translate into marks. Still others, by now sure their preparation isn't good enough, are, for the first time, paying attention.
My responsibility at this time goes beyond the classroom. Even the best of my students are beset by fears of not making it, so psychological support and counselling become an essential part of the training.
But this is a territory to be traversed with much caution. Teaching students grammar and math in class is one thing. Helping them overcome their professional fears is quite another.
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| Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar. (PTI) |
One of my brighter students, let's call him Vivek, walked up to me after class the other day. "Sir, can I take five minutes?" he said.
"Sure."
He pulled a chair, his mind elsewhere. I sat him down and offered him a glass of water.
"No sir, thank you," he replied politely. I felt anxious for him.
"Sir, what would happen if I don't clear CAT this time?"
"Don't even think about not clearing it. Simply focus on the preparation."
"Yes sir, but what if I don't make it to any of the IIMs?"
"Well, there are several good schools that are ranked in the top 30."
"And what if I don't make it to any of those too?"
"But you will. I have seen you in class. You will."
"I am not sure sir. My accuracy in mock CATs is highly variable. One week, I get a solid percentile. The next I am down to the 60s or 70s."
"But we still have time. There are plenty of workshops scheduled. It will get better."
"What if it doesn't?"
"What's with this I-am-the-most-negative-person-around vibe?"
"But tell me, please, what if I don't improve?"
"Listen Vivek, first I don't think you will not improve. I am certain you will make it to a good B-school. Second, even if you don't, it's not the end of the world. You try again next year."
"Oh no, sir. No, no. I have been working for the past three years and this will be my third attempt. I have to clear it this time."
"What do you mean 'have to'?"
"I mean my family will take it very badly if I don't make it this time. They won't let me try again next year."
"So try next year without their knowing."
"It's not that simple, sir. I can't bear to be at my office anymore. I really want to move out. An MBA is my only chance."
He looked so crestfallen I felt extremely disheartened myself. I am normally extra cheery around my students so that the class is upbeat and they look forward to learning. I had to be careful about what I said. I continued:
"Listen Vivek, you cannot sit in the exam with all this weighing on your mind. Let go. If you keep worrying about all this, you will anyway have a bad paper. If you don't make it this year, big deal! Tell you what, I know several people who, when they were your age, thought exactly like you. They worried immeasurably about the future. All of them - every last person - are well settled today. Life is not as predictable as we presume. Things work out. So maybe you don't make it. And you don't want to try again too. Not an issue. Start looking for a new job. Maybe a new job will reinvigorate you. Half the time we hate our jobs because of the boss. We don't hate the job, we hate the boss."
"Yes sir," he interrupted me, "I don't like my boss at all."
"See? Anyway, don't think about your boss or your job right now. Just prepare for CAT. Prepare with an open mind about your prospects. If you make it, great! If you don't, that's ok too. You will find something else. Or you might move to another city. Or something totally unforeseen might come about - in a good way of course - and these questions will resolve themselves."
He looked a little relieved. "Yes sir, ok sir," he said, more to himself than to me.
"Now get up and go. And finish the assignment."
"Yes, I will. Thank you sir, thanks a lot."
Vivek turned and left. I smiled, both in concern and relief. To my father's generation, Vivek's quarter life crisis would have seemed impertinent. But it can be harrowing.
The big wide world spread out before you. A long career ahead, planning for holy matrimony and the brood. Securing the future, in short. It can be terribly burdensome.
And then the competition, the freaking competition. It's hard enough being young and career-seeking. Then to have other smart young things, millions upon millions of them, jostling for the same few scraps of quality education.
For my students' sake, and for the sake of others like them, I hope Javadekar's proposal goes through.