Escaping the Marks Trap: Rethinking Education, Employability in a Changing World

As a new academic year begins, some students are just starting their journey while others have recently graduated, stepping into a world more complex than ever before. They must make room for themselves as AI reshapes industries and jobs around them. With so much change happening around them, students and parents are left wondering: How can higher education be relevant today? How should we measure learning? What are the skills we truly need to survive? And, what kind of jobs should one look for and prepare for?

While the relevance of higher education is being quietly questioned, the three key pillars of the education system – students, parents and teachers, continues to cling to the conventional metrics—marks and grades—as the primary measure of success. In a world that demands adaptability, critical thinking, and real-world skills, this obsession with scores leaves little room for the kind of learning that truly prepares students for the future.

Problems with High Scores

Students often mistake high marks for real achievement. But if there is no real challenge, is there any real learning? There is an ongoing discussion around the issue of “marks inflation” in India and around the world —a phenomenon where the naturally occurring bell curve (or normal distribution) of scores is missing. Instead, we see a right-skewed distribution, where a huge number of students score very high marks, and the average score of the class keeps rising with time.

What does this indicate? In a well-designed course, both the curriculum and the pattern of the question paper should be rigorous, relevant, and carefully planned. The exam structure is then challenging enough to naturally bring out the bell-shaped curve, separating different levels of understanding and performance. A skewed distribution usually means that the paper was too easy or predictable (promoting rote learning). It also suggests that the course is more about “impressing” than taking on the real challenge of “educating.” In such a case, there is no room for thinking, creativity, or—I would say—“adventure.” Recently, there has been a trend of celebrities posting their low Class 10 board exam marks online—quietly exposing the hollowness of marks as a measure of success.

Employability matters

According to the India Skills Report (2025), on average, only about 55 out of every 100 graduates across all fields of study in India are considered employable. In other words, 45% of graduates lack the skills, knowledge, or readiness required to be hired in the job market. The report also indicates stark differences in employability across disciplines. MBA (78%), B.E./B.Tech (71.5%), and MCA (71%) graduates demonstrate the highest employability, reflecting strong industry alignment and demand for technical and managerial skills. However, traditional degrees like B.Sc (58%), B.Com (55%), and B.A. (54%) show only moderate employability. B.Pharma (56%), ITI (41%), and Polytechnic (29%) also face low employability, despite being vocational or technical in nature. This analysis points towards the urgent need to make general and vocational education in India more aligned with industry needs. This includes updating curricula to focus on relevant skills, increasing hands-on training, and building stronger links with potential employers. A liberal arts and sciences framework offered by select universities today is one such attempt to bridge this gap by providing broader and more flexible learning experiences.

Chart 1 summarizes employer perceptions of various skills and attributes in new hires by their level of importance. Employers place the highest value on ethics. Engagement skills, management skills, and self-efficacy are also highly valued, with the majority employers marking them as “very important.” Skills like working with others, adaptability and problem-solving, and cognitive skills are also considered important. Surprisingly, even in a technology-driven world, technology skills and digital literacy and data fluency are not rated as critical by all. This indicates that employers prioritize ethical behavior, interpersonal engagement, and self-confidence over purely technical competencies when evaluating skill importance in potential employees.

Chart 1 : Attributes and skills valued by employers

The hiring trends in India in 2025 show a clear shift away from freshers. Most industries now prefer candidates with 1–5 years of experience. Sectors like Pharmaceuticals, IT, and BFSI (i.e., banking, financial services and insurance) are also looking for professionals with 6–10 years of experience. This makes it even more important for students to look for skill training opportunities and take up internships early on. Meanwhile, the use of AI in recruitment is expected to rise by 38%, changing how companies screen, assess, and interview candidates. AI is becoming central to making hiring more efficient and less biased.

Where are the jobs?

According to the Future of Jobs Report (2025), jobs like Big Data Specialists, FinTech Engineers, and AI and Machine Learning Specialists are growing at the fastest pace. This reflects the rising demand for advanced tech and data-driven skills in the future. Other fast-growing roles include software developers, cybersecurity experts, and data warehousing specialists. New roles such as electric vehicle specialists and UI/UX designers are also gaining momentum. There is steady growth in green jobs, such as renewable energy and environmental engineering. Overall, the job market is shifting toward roles that combine technology, sustainability, and innovation. Chart 2 summarizes this information.

In contrast, the job market is moving away from routine, clerical, and manual roles. Due to automation and digitization, jobs such as Postal Service Clerks, Bank Tellers, Data Entry Clerks, Cashiers, Executive Secretaries, Payroll Clerks, and Legal Secretaries are among the fastest-declining. Printing Workers, Transportation Attendants, and Door-to-Door Sales Workers are also in decline. Some professional roles, such as Graphic Designers, Claims Adjusters, and Legal Officials, are being automated or outsourced. To stay relevant, workers in these fields may need to reskill or shift into more strategic, tech-savvy roles. Choosing roles that complement machines rather than compete with them is a smarter path forward.

Source: Future of Jobs Report (2025)

What should students actually take away from this?

The future will belong to those who stay curious, ask better questions, and see learning as preparation for life, not just a race for marks. Students should choose courses that align with their interests and help them strengthen what they are already good at. The focus in classrooms must shift from rote exam preparation to developing skills that matter. Traditional degrees like BA, BSc, and BCom need to evolve. They must become interdisciplinary, rooted in context, and connected to real-world challenges. Tomorrow’s jobs will demand sharper thinking, creativity, and the ability to work across disciplines. Students should seek out institutions that embrace this change. A liberal arts and sciences approach, now adopted by many progressive universities, helps students become well-rounded thinkers who are better prepared for an AI-driven world. And finally, don’t obsess over scores. The person next to you is not your rival—they are your peer. Your real competition is larger, more complex, and probably invisible at the moment.

The article is authored by Dr. Jyotsna Rosario, Asst Professor of Economics, Vidyashilp University, Bangalore.