I would like to agree yet disagree with almost all the points mentioned in above threads. I basically dont like to debate on topics that are not really in my hand. But then how many things are really in your hand?
(lol) I would like to put my views in following points:
Further to Crook's point,
I think majority of the education systems in the world are driven by the demand of the skilled labor in the market. If there are 1000 vacancies for an engineer and 1 for an english graduate, you as a student are more likely to go for engineering studies despite being a good orator. As a government, you would rather promote engineering colleges, because thats what the industry demands. So I dont think its the fault of education system as such. Ask your fore fathers and you will get your answers.
KGV, compulsion to attend colleges is not a flaw in the education system. If college expected you not to attend the classes, they would rather encourage correspondance courses. And people like you should have done that. Colleges give you a platform to learn under the guidance of experienced professors. We should appreciate that. Although not all professors are worth respecting, agreed.
Now whether an ETC guy should learn mechanics or not is the decision of the guys who decide upon the curriculum and I would agree that unnecessary subjects to be scrapped. Every thing else is not worth mentioning.
I think freedom to choose our own field as per our liking should be given to us. Having said that, we shouldn't be worrying about the opportunities in the market.