“Learning never exhausts the mind” – Leonardo Da Vinci.
Education is the jewel that can remain a constant facility in your life while everything else consistently changes. You may suffer losses when it comes to loved ones, finances, belongings, etc. But the one thing you can never lose is your education.
The most beneficial thing about gaining an education is that it prepares you for your future and helps you reach your full potential. However, these days, students are just going to institutes for degrees, but are no longer interested in learning.
When Miss Rubab Akhtar, the Head of Programming Department at UCP, was asked about why students are no longer interested in getting an education, she responded:
“It is all about priorities. Those who come here to learn are learning, and those who don’t want to are not.”
Students today are not motivated enough to learn, because they have other priorities that compete with their time and attention. They have multiple goals in life; some academic, some about forging professional connections and some about establishing relationships.
Professor Ahsan Farooqi pointed out that course syllabus taught in colleges can be outdated, which is why students are no longer interested in their education:
“Our syllabus is old and outdated. University is a place of ideas but unfortunately there is no breathing place there, which is a reason behind why students are not learning well.”
This can be exemplified by how universities focus more on the theoretical side of courses, rather than practical. When teaching revolves around slides, students know they will get the material in the end. They just cram the subjects but do not learn.
In a course like Mass Communication, which is a field subject, universities place emphasis on theoretical knowledge. Students in the end lose their interest in studies.
Another lecturer pointed out how poor mental health of students can be a reason why they lose interest in their subjects. Professor Sajjad Raza said:
“Depression, health issues and mental issues are causing students to lose interest and motivation in studies.”
Students fighting with mental health issues like depression usually come late to class. They will submit their assignments later than everyone else.
This may not only affect them but it also affects the rest of the class as their motivation takes a hit too.
Students believe that their efforts will not improve their knowledge.
If they enrolled in a course which is quite difficult, then they can lose all motivation and believe that they cannot achieve anything in life.
Another professor, Yakhshi Saleem, places the blame on social media usage.
“Many social media apps are creating obstacles in learning because students keep using their mobiles during class. Whenever a notification pops up, students immediately check their phones and this is how their attention is diverted.”
Social media is the root of many problems in our life as it can impact our attention span and take attention away from our studies.
There are many reasons why students are not learning well in universities but students can begin working on themselves.
Ask any successful person and they’ll say hard work helped them achieve their dreams and goals. Working hard is often the difference between success and failure, but is also a rewarding pursuit in itself.
“Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds,” saidGordon B. Hinckley.
