Nirmala Sitharaman says colleges give degrees but not job skills

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said Indian colleges are not preparing students for jobs or entrepreneurship. In an interview with The Indian Express, she said most students graduate with a degree but lack the skills needed for employment or starting their own business. She contrasted this with developed countries, where technical universities and skill-based courses teach students how to use a skill and advance in it.

Sitharaman said the current system produces youth who hold certificates but are not ready for the market. She called for an overhaul in mindset and structure of school and college education, adding that spending money alone will not fix the problem. She also declined to revisit student protests at Jantar Mantar, saying the focus should be on moving forward.