A country’s education system often exists for 2 main reasons: helping students being prepared for the long run in the career they are interested in, or teaching them life skills which are applicable in any field. However, while education was pioneered to start with the former, it has evolved into a need to become the latter. In the 21st century, almost every skill is interconnected and can never be taught in isolation. On the contrary, subjects taught in the formative years such as mathematics, physics, chemistry have little relevance with day to day tasks. While they are very important, they are only needed in niche subject such as research. I believe that schools should focus on preparing students for long-term employment, and important practical skills which can help them navigate any situation.
Firstly, schools should focus on introducing subjects which teach students how to manage themselves. This may include learning how to prepare a simple meal, managing their finances, or decision making. For example, in order to map out the income of your family and how to utilize it more effectively, students must learn what can help them save money in the longer run, rather than being in classes which teach about forces and motion. On the other hand, digital literacy is a growing part of everyone’s lives. Almost every job now requires a basic grasp of computers, smartphones, without which you are not considered to be eligible. Schools must not alienate technology, rather integrating it in classrooms and teach students how to stay safe on the internet, creating digital materials and more. Moreover, subjects such as IT (information technology) and CS (computer science) mainly teach not only how computers work, data processing, but also maintainence of data, and require them to evaluate the world around them. Lastly, if schools can also teach students management techniques such as meeting new people, collaboration, managing administrative tasks, I believe it will be more practical and helpful in their life rather than a couple of formulas which do little justice later.
However, such core STEM subjects, or theory-heavy ones cannot be ignored. For ones who intend to comprehend the world more closely through groundbreaking research, and academia, even elevating the technology being used around them, the existence of these subjects are too vital to put aside. Not only should such students know what they want to study, but also must focus on relating what they know with what they can apply. Curriculums such as the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Levels are unique in their own way since they don’t just teach content, but also make them apply and evaluate what they know in unique situations. Such niche careers in research carry a type of prestige/fame which has been built gradually and cannot be crumbled easily.
Thus I believe that both should be balanced, and schools must work on holistic development of students. They must teach them how to manage any problems coming in their way, while letting them not ignore the basics.