It begins with a class of students. Notebooks in hand, heads bent, eyes on the board. The teacher talks, the students jot down, and the clock keeps ticking on. Months roll by. Exams pass and by. Degrees are passed. And then there is the actual world, where things are not question papers, and answers cannot always be memorized. 

This is where the gap appears. 

A degree can led you to doors, but what you do after you’ve gone through them is up to something more. That something is practical learning. And it is something our colleges require a whole lot more of. 

Because let’s face it, learning about how things are done is not the same as doing them. 

So why is practical learning so crucial in colleges nowadays? 

1. It prepares students for real-world challenges 

In theory, you can be taught to run a business, code or create a campaign. But until you attempt to actually do so, you have no idea what it’s like. 

• Real problems are complicated, unpredictable and full of surprises 

• Practical learning forces you to think on your feet 

• It gives confidence to do, not just respond 

Classrooms teach theory. Practice teaches sense. 

2. It creates job-ready skills 

Employers are not necessarily seeking degrees. They are seeking individuals who can problem-solve, work collaboratively, learn fast and produce results. 

• Internships, projects and experiential assignments get you job-ready 

• You acquire communication, collaboration and time management skills 

• You commit fewer errors later on since you already encountered some previously 

A student who has put in the work communicates in a different language learned. The language of experience. 

3. It makes learning fun and vibrant 

Not all learn through reading or listening. 

• Some learn best when they make, construct or discover 

• Hands-on activities make things more fun and real 

• Learning is enjoyable when you can relate it to life 

When students feel engaged, they feel motivated. And that makes all the difference. 

4. It identifies genuine interests and talents 

You might think you love a subject until you put it into practice in the real world. Or you might find untapped talents you never realized you possess. 

• Doing real tasks shows you what works for you 

• It makes wiser decisions about careers and more study 

• It lessens the fear of failure since you already experimented with small risks 

You develop not only as a pupil, but also as an individual. 

5. It fills the gap between college and career 

Too many graduates feel adrift. They possess the degree but lack direction. 

• Practical experience provides you with a sense of what’s next 

• It assists you in developing a network and knowing what the industry requires 

• It makes education a journey, not merely a destination 

So why do we require more practical learning in degree colleges? 

Because knowledge is not the whole picture. Application is the second half. And without it, we are sending students into a world that demands action with nothing but answers. 

It is time for classrooms to be more than sites of listening. They need to be sites of trying, of failing, of building and of learning through doing. That is where true education starts.