Unemployment affects school students [Archives:2005/896/Education]

ABDULKREEM AL-AAWAGE
AN ENGLISH TEACHER
AL-SADDA, IBB
It is an admitted fact that a person is a part of the environment he lives in. He interacts with his surrounding and affects and influences his environment.

It is no wonder, therefore, that students in high schools, who are considered the hopes and builders of future, are influenced by the prevailing socio-economic factors. It is evident by the deterioration in the interest and motivation of the students specially from 11th class onwards.

It is the unemployment which affects many students in high schools. We all observe this everyday and every year in the form of high rates of drop outs, as well as dwindling enrollment of the students from year to year and from class to class.

A potent cause of this is their awareness of the economic situation. They think that their efforts will come to nothing. There are no jobs and no chances for work; so why should they expend labour in their studies which seems to be an excercise in futility for them.

It is a big problem actually which must be tackled with great wisdom. It is a fact that the economic position of the country is not encouraging, but the wheel of life must go on. And everyone must share in solving this problem. The teacher must be aware of this serious problem and convince students not to be discouraged by the apparently daunting situation.

It is not the responsibility of teachers alone. There is the family, it must look after the mental and psychological health of its members. It must advise them to continue their studies in right earnest and get good ranks among their classmates. Then they may get the best jobs inshallah.

Writers and the intellectuals in the society have a role to play in this regard. They must not reflect in their writings the dismal scenario. They must be fair and throw a ray of hope to the next generation for best dividends.
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