Regarding the question at hand I firmly believe that the role of education is to prepare individuals to become productive members of society. I argue that if individuals want to achieve personal ambition they should do so in a way that benefits the broader society. In the following essay, I will articulate my rationale for this firm stance, in addition to providing relevant examples.
Firstly, it is crucial to note that in the majority of countries education is funded by governments. Simply put, tax payers’ money and the nation’s resources pay for individuals’ education. Therefore, it is only logical that the education system should prioritize the broader society.
People who argue that education systems should prioritize individuals’ ambitions and personal goals are well-intentioned but their misguided approach is bound to cause serious issues. For instance, not only will this lead to significant waste of resources, but it will also cause unforeseen problems as many students fail to materialize their potential and bring their ideas to fruition. I argue that an educational system which prioritizes the society is not an obstacle toward personal growth. On the other hand, without finding a way to benefit the broader society, there is no way for people to find immense success ethically.
While there are numerous benefits for individuals and the broader society if people follow their ambition, we need to be mindful that a significant number of people who try to find immense success by starting a business face economic hardship and potential bankruptcy. Therefore, not everyone benefits from such an education. Instead, what needs to be done is to provide resources and infrastructure for ambitious individuals to follow their dreams, not to make that the primary goal of entire education system.
Lastly, these days, there is no shortage of resources for ambitious students. For instance, they can study business in universities and enroll in educational program that suits them best as a part of their higher education. It is for this and aforementioned reasons that I firmly believe the current education system, which prioritizes the society, is good enough and there are no legitimate reasons to advocate radical changes.