Opinion: Our education system should be less structured

Opinion: Our education system should be less structured
6 March 2023 James O'Dowd
In Journal

I enjoyed my school years and I was a happy student, but I can’t help feeling that I would’ve benefitted from a more unstructured education system. While our understanding of different learning types has moved on since my days, sadly, mainstream schooling hasn’t.

With how quickly technology is advancing, employers need new sets of skills for the workplace, so it’s time for our schools to adapt and prepare students for the future. Companies are trying to optimise their use of emerging technologies and build more sustainable business models. They’ll need the next generation of young people if they’re going to succeed.

One of the biggest issues with the current system is its focus on standardised testing. Too often, students are taught to memorise information rather than to think critically and creatively. This leaves them ill-prepared for the real world, where success depends on problem-solving and innovation.

Now, more than ever before, schools are facing some major challenges and it’s time for us to start re-evaluating how we educate our children.

We also need to address the inequities in our education system. Far too many students don’t have access to the resources and support they need to thrive. Our research at the Patrick Morgan Foundation has shown that this education gap has only been exacerbated since the pandemic, perpetuating systemic inequalities.

To create a more equitable and effective education system, we need to invest in teacher training and support, provide students with more opportunities for hands-on, experiential learning, and ensure that all students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Now, more than ever before, schools are facing some major challenges and it’s time for us to start re-evaluating how we educate our children.

How do you feel about our education system? Should it be more flexible? Should it give students more freedom to focus on experience and learn in the way they’ll apply well to the working world?

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