Tamil Nadu govt to act on education-employment gap, says Speaker Prabhakar
The Tamil Nadu government is aware of the gap between education and employment in the State and will take steps to address it soon, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar said on Saturday.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Patrician College of Arts and Science in Chennai, Mr. Prabhakar said policy gaps have left several degree and diploma holders unable to find jobs that match their education. He pointed to a mismatch between jobs suited for education, remuneration commensurate with talent, and revenue earned from knowledge acquired.
Mr. Prabhakar attributed one reason for this to the mushrooming of engineering colleges in the State. He noted that Tamil Nadu also has several Arts and Science colleges offering new and interesting courses. The Speaker assured the audience that the government is working towards ensuring job security for the youth. “The Chief Minister has asked for some time to implement his policies,” he added.
R. Kumar, Minister for AI, IT, and Digital Services, spoke about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on every part of the world. He urged all government departments to adopt AI to “walk your path to success.” He advised students not to stop with their degrees but to upskill themselves to be ready for the next stage of development of this technology.
The event also included felicitation of retired faculty members and staff. Among those present were Brother Vincent George, Director and Secretary of Patrician College; Brother S. Arockiaraj, Province Leader of Patrician Brothers; Brother Jerome Ellens, Community Leader; Arokiamary Geetha Rufus, Principal; and Fatima Vasanth, Academic Director.
The Speaker's remarks come amid ongoing debates about employability of graduates in Tamil Nadu. According to available data, a significant number of educated youth in the State are underemployed or working in jobs unrelated to their qualifications. The government has previously announced skill development initiatives, but implementation has been uneven across districts.
Experts say that bridging the gap requires coordinated efforts between educational institutions, industry, and government. Curriculum updates, vocational training, and career counselling are seen as essential steps. The Chief Minister's promise to implement policies aimed at job creation is being watched closely by students and parents alike.
