I have been having quite a few conversations with the younger generations lately in our beloved land. Mostly those who have been employed for the past 10 years after graduation from university and many others from the generation that is still or is going to go into university.
I did this to gage what they felt about their future in the hopes that I can convey this to you all in a manner that we can assist them in achieving their dreams and aspirations.
Here are a few of the questions asked and their responses:
Where do you see you being in the next 10 years?
Almost 95% percent said they wanted to be out of Jordan, somewhere in Europe, North or South America, anywhere just not here!
When asked why, the same response somehow someway always comes to their feeling of frustration with what they deem their inability to make a difference in the land of their birth.
Most gave the same answer; that those in power over their lives do not want or will not allow them to make the necessary changes they feel will allow them to reach their aspirations, as well as what they feel the country should look like in the next 10 years.
When I dig deeper as to whom they maybe referring to, they start out with their teachers in school and university, eventually ending up with public officials who in their opinion could not manage what they have been appointed to do, nor do they feel that many even have the required knowledge or leadership qualities, or as some of them state; the desire to make these necessary changes.
Most of them state that their teachers are at least 10 years behind the times, both in present social behavior or in the subject matter they are teaching.
When I ask for specific instances or issues that they take issue with, some of the young engineers interviewed state they are tired of seeing poor workmanship by contractors working on public jobs, where utilities are undersized, roadways are under-designed or worse designed improperly but still allowed to be built incorrectly by corrupt practices.
They lately have been citing the inability to manage traffic properly or enforce the basic of laws, as well as poor sight and distance requirements for proper traffic flow and management.
When I ask them if they believe that some of this was also due to poor university training, they comment in the affirmative, stating that many of their professors have never worked in the real world or have never kept up with new regulations and standardization.
This is not regulated to engineers; newly graduated doctors and nurses state the same; giving examples or poor radiological interpretation especially in newer MRI or CATSCAN technologies. Some even have stated that the bedside manner by doctors in Jordan for the sick or terminally ill is basically none existent.
Or that our healthcare system in general is broken; where the poor or unemployed cannot get the required health care they need, especially as it relates to the young, poor and vulnerable.
Meanwhile the most heart breaking of all broken aspirations came from interviewees who are working or want to work in the social sciences. Many stated they have no idea how they will pursue their career in the social sciences, especially those that wish to advance women studies, women issues and female health and general well-being. Many have stated that they felt that the social science are looked down upon in our society and their only avenue today is working with foreign NGO’s and charitable organizations working in Jordan to get work in their desired field of study.
Lastly; almost all believe that our society as it exists today will never be able to provide enough jobs for them now or in the near future. They all cite lack of economic vitality and forward thinking on some parts of the leadership especially those tasked with managing our economic base. They wonder why it was possible for Russia a state which lost over 6 million people in WWII and whose country was basically demolished, could rise to a become a word power in 40 years.
Why small Switzerland could be a banking and finance giant among nations, and whose natural resources are few, but have one of the highest quality of living and happiness of all countries in the world.
They wonder out loud to me, that we can never get this way as long as they are pushed to the wayside by those unqualified and entrenched or glued to their positions. Where nepotism or other nefarious means of employment other than the most qualified candidate that gets the job.
This series of interviews obviously is not scientifically conducted, but I bet you all it is somewhat accurate of the feelings of many of our young professionals and those who will be coming into the work force soon. This is sad indeed, forget about the problems they cite, many can be fixed quite quickly with the right people guiding the reformation.
However; as long as we have the smartest and brightest of our coming generations wanting to flee the country for lack of opportunity, we cannot and will not ever rise to the level that we expect of our country. It’s time to ponder putting those unqualified, aged, or stagnant manager s and officials to pasture.
God Bless Jordan and its People.
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