By: Zeeshan Ahad
Srinagar: Inside the COPA Lab at ITI Srinagar, monitors screens shrouded in black-grey covers lay gently parked one after another on their desks. Benches coated with light grey colour lay settled in the middle.
Parallel to a wind glass, two curtains embroidered in blue-red flower designs accompany a big white board, carrying the dismantled parts of a computer.
Gradually within time, students in Uniforms start occupying the vacant benches, momentarily the classroom is filled with one-to-one chats.
A mild breeze carrying the dawn light surpasses from the window, creating unusual shapes against the blue wall inside the lab, the aroma embraces a tender feeling.
Amid this status, 22 years old Kaiser Farooq seated along with his friends in the fourth row seems attentive. By hearing new computer jargons, he copies the details in his notebook. His eyes keenly observing all the activities inside the lab.
For Kaiser having a bachelor’s degree in Commerce wasn’t enough for him to land into a job. He was ruled by unfamiliar emotions during his college time, after he finds out that his college management lacks internship and training programs.
To bridge this gap, he planned to set his practical journey by enrolling himself in a skilled course after his graduation.
Crossing all the odds, slowly but swiftly, he finally secured his admission in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA) course at ITI Srinagar.
‘There is no doubt that Data and technology is the upcoming future’, Kaiser told Kashmir Convener.
‘Right now, Jobs demands skills and I don’t want to run out of track’, he continued.
‘In our academics we mostly lack internships and Job counselling’s resulting joblessness’ he further added.
He also informed Kashmir Convener that the management at COPA puts more efforts on practical training rather than theoretical process.
He further praised the management for providing placement opportunities after course completion.
Battling against the competitive Job market is another recent graduate Touseef Ali, from Shalteng Srinagar.
With an arts Degree in hand and passion for computer technology, Touseef is set to acquire specialized skills that would help him to end his jobless state.
Being raised in a middle-class family, Touseef was always keen on securing a stable career. After completing his Bachelors in Arts, his family wants him to pursue a postgraduate degree.
However, Touseef believes that a good skilled course was the only way for him to secure a stable profession.
“I don’t want to be just like any other graduate,” Touseef explains to Kashmir Convener.
“Learning skills would set me apart from others,” he further explains.
“I have full heart belief in my teachers here, they are just like the game-changers,” he added.
Touseef’s dedication towards the course is mending his daily routine. He spends his daily hours on learning coding, typing and mathematical algorithms and hopes for a better placement after course competition.
“Technical courses are essential for graduates like me. It opens doors for industrial job’s,” he finally concluded.
Effortlessly grabbing the attention of his students through his lectures is the Senior Instructor of COPA Trade, Gul Ifran Hakak. With his high teaching dedication and dignified honour, he displays a sense of wisdom in the class.
Teaching in the Institute for more than a decade, he is keen to impart his knowledge to generations of Students.
Despite his seniority, Irfan’s soft and tender voice booms the lecture hall as he starts his lecture on Computer Networking analysis.
According to his students, his expertise in Computer and Technology is unmatchable and his class always secures the demand list.
Many of the students also informed Kashmir Convener that Irfan Sir makes complex concepts more accessible and his teaching style is totally incomparable.
“From first day of my class, I felt a sense of admiration for Irfan’s Sir teaching,” Urooj Bashir, a student in COPA, informed Kashmir Convener.
“For me Irfan Sir isn’t only a teacher, he is a guide and a mentor,” She lastly added.
Governed by Director Skill Development J&K, Industrial Training Institutes (ITI’s) in J&K, offer a wide range of courses and training programs in multiple trades. The primary object is to equip youths for industry-specific training, employment and entrepreneurship.
Approximately, around 9 lakh students enrolled themselves for ITI programs per year across India, according to Press India Bureau (PIB).
In addition to this report, India’s Education Ministry implemented National Education Policy (NEP-2020) in 2020, to transform India’s education system, by focusing skill development and vocational training to address unemployment. However, the lack of training programs and internships is still a significant contributor to unemployment in J&K.
According to a report by J&K Policy Institute-2022-23, nearly 7 lacks youths between 18 to 30 years of age are still jobless in J&K.
About Author: Zeeshan Ahad is an Independent Journalist based in J&K’s Capital Srinagar. He can be reached by zeeshanahad26@gmail.com
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