Hyderabad: A shift in policy by city schools and colleges mandating internships during the week-long Dasara holidays, instead of a dedicated month or fortnight as was the previous policy, has left students up in arms.
Students are in an outcry over holidays being taken up for work, claiming they are already overburdened. Also, they questioned the effectiveness of an internship for a week.
“We already have a substantial workload during these holidays, including assignments, project work and record submissions,” said Aarti Nair, a Class 12 student at a private school in the city.
Karthikeya T., a B Com (Hon) student, said, “This break is also supposed to be preparation time for our upcoming external exams, which begin immediately after the college reopens on October 26.”
Deepa Mary K., an assistant professor, however, defended the move. “It's crucial for students to gain exposure to the real-world working environment in their chosen industries. This experience can motivate them to study and work harder in their chosen direction. It also brings clarity regarding their decision to continue in the same line,” she said.
Another teacher, not wishing to be named, said: “Holidays are not just meant for rest; they should also serve to keep one's mind intellectually and skilfully charged. Short internships can provide this intellectual stimulation.”
Srinivas Palle, a parent, welcomed the idea of internships during longer breaks, like the summer holidays. “When students don't have the luxury of rest, then internships must happen during designated working days of the college, as has traditionally been the case,” he said.
Industry experts, however, sided with students questioning the effectiveness of short internships.
An industry expert, not wishing to be named, said, “Summer internships are welcome in the workplace, but a week is hardly enough time to learn, adapt or understand anything. In most cases, it takes that long for interns to adjust to a new environment. Short-term interns may end up being more of a hindrance, requiring training without contributing meaningfully. Ideally, internships should be a two-way street where both parties benefit.”
Maruti Kesava, a senior programme manager with a tech giant, said that creative jobs might be an exception, where short internships can still be productive. “A week is never enough time to learn or adapt or understand anything. That's the amount of time people take to just get adjusted to anew atmosphere, especially a fresher,” he said.
