The inflammation of syllabus

why publication manadate is stupid

BPT syllabus in India is usually full of shit. I’ve pointed out many times before, we are the only group of professionals who are expected to learn exercise therapy without first understanding its fundamental principles or the physiology behind it. We deal with pain daily, yet our education barely covers pain science. We work in neurorehabilitation and sports science but dont have any education in motor control and behavior.

Our curriculum leaves us woefully undereducated in key areas essential to physiotherapy while burdening us with excessive content in anatomy, pharmacology, microbiology, medicine, surgery, and community medicine—most of which offer little practical value to our profession. I have already outlined how these subjects should be structured for BPT, but unfortunately, the so-called "highly educated" Board of Studies seems more interested in copying and pasting existing content rather than making meaningful reforms.

The newest stupidtiy is publications.

So, the buffoons at the Board of Studies (BOS) now want MPT students to publish or present a paper at a conference.

Why?

PhD in our country has already become a joke. The PhD rat race is so corrupt that it’s an open secret—most of it is just imagined and written on a computer. Our so-called PhD guides and faculty can barely publish a paper that isn’t fit for the trash. And when PhD research itself is in this pathetic state, these same buffoons now expect MPT students to publish or present papers.

Why?

Well, it’s not even a new trend. Many private universities, which are slowly turning into “degree mills,” are already doing this. Some colleges even require publications during the internship period. I assume these people didn’t want to be left behind, so they decided to follow the herd and earn their stripes too.

But why?

The real question is: have these forced publications—from PhD to MPT—achieved any real learning objectives? Has anyone actually conducted the studies they claim to have published? Did any of it improved the understanding of research methods or the value of data?

Except for a few rare exceptions, the answer is a resounding no.

The answer is simple: we lack the infrastructure, both physical and human resources. Our faculty have little to no training in research, leadership, or mentoring, making it incredibly difficult to develop competent researchers.

Good research takes time, but unfortunately, neither the government nor the university is willing to wait. Instead of investing in long-term improvements, they push for quantity over quality, further deteriorating the standards of academic research.

Then why is it done:

Well i think these are the reaosns:

1. We think more is better. The problem isn’t quantity—it’s quality. The NAAC rat race is the primary driving force, turning our country, along with China, into one of the biggest paper mills. We are among the top three nations with the most retracted papers. How sweet. Read more about this "exciting achievement" in the latest Nature paper.

2. MPT research is being pushed to shift the financial burden. Faculty want MPT students to publish so they don’t have to pay for publications themselves. It’s also the easiest way to get your name on a paper—other than a wedding invitation.

3. The primary aim of MPT should be education and clinical training. Students should be coming to college, consulting patients, and developing clinical eperitise—not just sitting at home or wasting time in the canteen (as it is happening now).

please note this is not only for MPT. Engineering to genetics are stuck with the publication bug. The academia needs to enema to get rid of this virus.

So, lets stop with our infatuation with publication. hopefully the BOS in all our universities have some clarity on what needs to be done to improve PT education. Publication is not.

Regarding other specialities, i am not sure the system needs never, specialities for now. It may be valuable in some super speciality hosptitals and may be they should be conducting these course, well i really dont know.

I know this is harsh on faculty, i am aware they have little power to change most of the criminality that goes on in universities and colleges. However, the Phd guides are mostly idiots, the BOS is fairly autonmous to impement the smallest change possible so……..

Love

Hariohm