Social Sector Education: The need of the hour in India

Social sector, or civil society, is critical to a democracy like India. Yet sadly, we are far from creating a favorable and conducive atmosphere for people and organisations working in the field, or wanting to work and pursue it as a career.

The core values of social work - service of mankind, social justice and equality, dignity of other person, and human relations are lost upon most of us. This situation has to change so that India has a diverse social sector and this can be achieved through formal education of the faculty. This will not only help sensitize people but also help approach the sector in a more methodical and scientific manner, so that the action becomes philanthropic and mission-based.

Tapping young minds

Charity begins at home and, furthermore, it should go to the next level at school. Tapping the young impressionable minds is very important in this sector, as this will mold a person for the lifetime. Therefore, introducing the subject as a part of formal education at school level will go a long way in opening up this sector as a career option too.

Learning about social service as part of curriculum together with on-field experience will introduce children to social challenges faced by deprived in the society. For this, children should be educated through alternate modes like production of TV shows and films, print, new generation digital learning tools, electronics, animation, video tools, and designing holistic curriculums.

Social sector as career option

There are numerous gains to working within the social sector, the top most being immense satisfaction. The fact that you were capable of turning tears into smiles, unhappiness into happiness, and guide someone to a brighter path is invaluable.

Though social sector is slowly and steadily becoming acceptable and a desirable space for career opportunities, the career ladder - although occasionally restrictive - tends to incentivize learning.

When we compare the social sector education courses in India and the courses offered in the western world, we can see that we are still learning and examining the very basic issues and needs of the society.

In the west, their studies have been developed in such a way that they are now discussing the micro-level psychological and social issues of the society. Their educational systems have been capable in developing expertise for every social issue faced by the society.

Therefore, streamlining the content in India for highly skilled vocational training programs across rural and urban populations, giving guidelines on skill-based educational programs, devising holistic social professional courses (certified and degree courses) is very important to ultimately incentivize for taking up the course.

Despite its relatively recent emergence, social sector has become a field wherein academic credentials are all but essential for a successful career. The field has created a legitimate space for career options.

The country has over 120 colleges, private as well as government offering over 100 courses including degree and certification, offering structured social work education system. Mumbai’s Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and Delhi University offering Socio-Legal course are the two most sought-after institutes.

Bachelors in social work program is particularly beneficial for the people employed at middle and lower-level positions with NGOs and social developmental agencies, across statutory, voluntary and government & private sectors. The basic eligibility criterion for pursuing the course is a 10+2 or equivalent qualification in any stream.

As for the masters, a positive trend has been observed - students from different streams are pursuing masters in social sciences. There are also certificate courses that can be taken up after matriculation.

The recruiting areas could be counselling centres, disaster management centres, private clinics, education institutes, gender issues associations/groups, health industry, HR departments and foundations of industries, human rights agencies, MNCs, natural resources management companies, hospitals, NGOs, old age homes, prisons, and such.

The job options could include consultant, teacher, customer service associate, personnel manager, assistant professor, teacher & lecturer, district consultant, professor & junior research fellow, welfare officer, senior manager, project coordinator, assistant director, labor welfare officer, practice head, medical social worker, among others.

Social workers work for the upliftment of the poor and oppressed, poverty alleviation, for children with special needs, orphans and old people. There are a lot of ways in which a social worker can directly and indirectly contribute to helping people through his work.

Social welfare formal education will teach students how to learn about disabilities, mental health, human growth and development and accordingly develop the necessary communication skills to handle the vulnerable adults and children, become fully aware of the relevant social care legislation, best practices, government policies, respond quickly and effectively to crisis situations; produce, implement & evaluate care plans, manage risks to service users, be accountable for their own caseloads, and demonstrate professional competence at all times.

There are around 3.2 million registered NGOs in India and many more unregistered NGOs. Besides, there are thousands of corporates and private companies who require qualified professional social workers.

A vast discipline, social work offers lots of job opportunities. Social workers work with demographics ranging from the newly born to elderly people. They serve individual, families, and communities uplifting the humanity. Therefore, societal indifference towards the sector is not something the largest democracy in the world can afford to live with.

The author is a seasoned professional known for her expertise to incorporate social responsibility, corporate affairs.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own and do not reflect those of DNA.)