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An example of hiring sans academic certificates 

Published : Monday, 9 September, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 384
Mahamudul Hasan
Nagad, a leading provider of mobile financial services, has taken the unprecedented step of eliminating the need for certificates in its hiring process. It goes without saying that this groundbreaking initiative mirrors the recruitment strategies of global tech giants like Tesla, Meta, and LinkedIn, who have long abandoned traditional credentialism in favor of skill-based evaluations. In these industry behemoths, a certificate is no longer a prerequisite for employment; rather, the focus lies solely on demonstrable competencies. Consequently, these corporations have triggered a paradigm shift, propelling themselves to new heights of success-a success rooted squarely in the proficiency of their workforce. We aspire for Nagad to experience a similar revolution, one that would not only transform the company but also contribute to the enrichment of Bangladesh's economy. 

However, does this trend suggest that academic certificates have become entirely obsolete? Are the country's renowned universities and the countless scholars who hold prestigious PhDs no longer relevant? This concern takes on greater significance when one considers the chasm that exists between universities, originally established as bastions of research and intellectual discovery, and the very research they were meant to foster. The 2020 UGC annual report revealed a startling truth-35 universities did not allocate a single penny to research that year. This revelation is as astonishing as it is disheartening, raising questions about the purpose of these institutions.

Our universities are not producing the next Stephen Hawking or Mark Zuckerberg. Instead, they churn out disillusioned, unemployed graduates who, burdened by rote learning, seek jobs with little hope of self-fulfillment. The aspiration of many students has been reduced to memorizing trivial knowledge and securing a government position, rather than cultivating meaningful skills. Worse still, some bold and creative young individuals, much like Zuckerberg, find themselves crushed under the weight of this flawed system, tragically opting for suicide as their only escape. A survey conducted by the social and voluntary organization *Aanchal* reveals that 61% of students who commit suicide in Bangladesh each year come from public universities. Additionally, nearly half a million students leave the country annually in pursuit of higher education, and aside from a fortunate few with guaranteed employment, most of them never return. Instead, they seek to establish permanent residency in foreign lands. This leads to an egregious situation where the talents nurtured at the expense of our taxpayers end up serving the economies of other nations, while Bangladesh remains deprived of their potential contributions.

The current certificate-based system can be held partially responsible for these tragedies-whether it is the alarming rate of suicides, the brain drain of talent, or the failure of young people to find jobs commensurate with their abilities. The certificates that are awarded to students today are often the result of an education system that prioritizes rote memorization over critical thinking and practical skills. True competence cannot be acquired by simply committing textbook knowledge to memory. Skill development requires hands-on experience and active engagement. As Rabindranath Tagore aptly remarked, memorization is no different from parroting words, akin to copying during an examination. Does this mean the long-standing system of certification is fundamentally flawed? Not entirely. It is essential that anyone claiming expertise in a given field possesses a certification to validate their knowledge. However, that certification must reflect genuine skills and capabilities, rather than hollow, rote-based learning, akin to the superficial knowledge critiqued in Tagore's *The Parrot's Training*. Certificates must serve as a testament to one's abilities, offering tangible proof of competence. Without such reform, imagining comprehensive national progress is futile.

The writer is a Student, University of Rajshahi


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