While some people argue that academic subjects should be the main focus of the schools, others believe that practical skills like cooking, managing money and basic repairs should also be taught. Although both perspectives have some merit, I believe that learning practical skills is important too.
Schools should focus on teaching academic subjects because they lay the basic foundation of students’ career. When relevant academic subjects are taught, it enhances students’ overall knowledge. For instance, when a DPT student is taught anatomy, he will know the biomechanics of joints and muscles, the number of bones and their functions. This helps the student acquiring in essential knowledge making him/her a competent student and physiotherapist.
Practical skills such as cooking, managing money and basic repairs should be taught too. These skills broaden students’ horizons. Students develop a sense of independence as they get to learn the basic life skills. For instance, a student is moving abroad for pursuing higher education, if he/her knows these extra skills, he/her will be more confident in managing their life. Let’s say the city they moved into doesn’t have much halal food, and they can’t afford to eat restaurant’s food every day. Now if they already know basic cooking, they will be able to cook for themselves. Then with the skill of managing money, they will be keeping record of their purchases which will help them to persevere longer.
In conclusion, although both perspectives have some merit, I believe that addition of practical skills in the academic syllabus is ultimately the more effective approach.