http://www.greaterkashmir.com/seven.htm (volatile link)

Computer edu thrives in Vale amid gloomy scenario

Shakeel-ur-Rehman

Srinagar, Dec 26: Inspite of the fact that IT industry
globally is facing a severe economic slump, the training
activity in Valley hardly reflects any sign of it. The IT
schools here are witnessing a deluge of students.

Already with the new academic year approaching fast the
training schools here have come out with various long and
short duration courses and students are making a beeline for
these.

The trend seems patently out of context. With a dismal IT
scenario sweeping the globe what is it that makes the
learning of computers such a rage in Kashmir. While a section
of opinion puts it down to lack of adequate awareness about
the gloomy global situation on the part of the students,
others argue that IT education in Valley is independent of
the job pursuit.

"For the moment, learning of computers is the primary aim
rather than seeking of jobs and this is why computer eduation
is still a focus for its own sake", contends Barkat Ali,
centre head of the Zainabia computers.

But then what is in store for the future of the new
computer-literate for whom IT specialisation has become a
priority learning area and that too in Valley where
opportunities and avenues seem to have already reached a
saturation point? This is a question which nobody is
confident enough to answer, painting of rosy pictures by
numerous fly-by-night computer centres notwithstanding, which
despite an abysmal infrastructure do not fight shy of
offering the latest courseware.

Privately many owners of the computer institutes also admit
this fact but at the same time they see the present slump as
a fluid, temporary phenomenon which will shore up in near
future.

"Decidedly, IT sector is not doing good these days. But in
the days ahead things will definitely look up," says A H Moon
Principal Design Engineer at CEDTI Rangreth adding that IT
industry is expected to recover by the middle of next
year. He further said that IT is the only industry in the
country that is still growing at over 20 per cent annually,
thereby offering good avenues to the students.

That the state is still "backward computer-wise" is also seen
as a plus point. A sense of hope that is widely shared is the
huge potential for job opportunities once the state moves
forward in the direction of computerisation. This sentiment
is also fully exploited by the present crop of computer
institutes. And in their publicity arsenal this may be the
only honest assurance.

Reiterates Barket Ali, " Since government departments and the
private business houses here have started investing in IT,
new career opportunities are bound to open up".

Will they, won't they, the uncertainty however still hangs
over the promise.

" For all sorts of jobs employers prefer candidates with
computer skills. Therefore, one has to be tech savvy to
succeed in the new world order," Jahan Ara Majeed a DIT
student, echoes her centre head Barkat Ali. Is this then the
bond and of course the mutual faith - between students and
their respective computer heads - that drives the current
deluge?