Need for social scientists

The scope of social sciences amongst the youth of our country has been on a declining trend for a very long time. There has been a complete absence of social scientists in our society and this is one of the causes of the circumstances we face today.

Most of our youth is still unaware that a third academic discipline exists, other than science and commerce i.e., the discipline of humanities or arts. This faculty has long been absent from the realm of professional studies for many students.

Many are not even familiar with the subjects which constitute the social sciences. Students pursuing a career in fields of literature, history and philosophy have now become a rarity in our society and subjects such as sociology, psychology, economics and education are in a continuous downfall.

Bright students are not encouraged to venture on such subjects professionally and those, who are unable to get admissions in fields of science and commerce, choose this faculty as a last resort. And the reason why those students who study these subjects are not able to prosper is that they have not been oriented to understand the importance of these disciplines.

One major reason for this lack of understanding is the low level of job opportunities in our country for these fields, which renders many people to abandon the idea of studying any social science. Secondly, our education system does not highlight the importance of these subjects as vital to our society. In many schools and colleges, this faculty is not taught at matriculation or intermediate level and those few schools where these subjects are taught, they are treated as secondary subjects and usually for those students who are not very bright in their studies.

The third reason is the pressure by parents on students who want to study these subjects. Considered as a social taboo, the parents are more inclined to send their children to business, engineering or medical schools rather than having their children study arts or humanities.

This is a short-sighted thinking as many of us do not realise the importance of social thinkers and which is why our society is currently suffering from a fundamental lack of ideology.

I would request the authorities to take under consideration the lack of job opportunities which students of social sciences face. Along with this I would also urge parents, teachers and educators to explain to their students the importance of these fields and also to encourage them to pursue these disciplines. I would also suggest the students to develop an interest in such fields as this would not only be beneficial for their own grooming but will also help bringing about a positive change in our society.

MUHAMMED FAIQ LODHI

Karachi