What Is The Purpose Of Education? | Harison Xavier

Introduction

                 The following is my thoughts on modern education, why do we learn, why do we go the schools and colleges to get these fancy degree.  What is the real purpose of education in modern time? This was the question put forward by our marketing professor before he began his class for the day. I was really silent to this question as I have to formulate me thoughts correctly before I speak. So one way for me to arrange my though is by writing.  Writing down makes me think. Some day, someone will be reading this, so let me know your thoughts in comments below. One more thing is I must make it short, so that I this is easy and interesting.

Teaching is a divine profession  - Harison Xavier

The Genesis 

The education system we see today was implemented during the industrial revolution. People were send to factories and offices to work and kids were send to school to learn writing, reading, math, get  disciplined  and fear authority. These kids are the future employees of the factories so they were disciplined at a very young age. They were made to sit in rows and columns, follow strict rules, kind of military life. Creativity was not an option, obey rules, stay inside the box, schools were not the place for innovation.

They were never given the freedom. Students were just future employees of industries and this was their training period.

Present

The system has not changed, we are still following the industrial revolution, we fear to change the system, it is hard and looks impossible. One major change that was noticed in the recent times was the business of education. Schools gave themselves a fancy upgrade and improved technology and turn themselves in business organisations. From a divine service of  teaching most institutions have become money hungry businesses which are only looking for profits. How did we even got here? This is not want a school should show the students if they want bright and moral citizens in the society.

When I ask my friends why they took their course, most of them reply because this could give them a better opportunity to get a high paid job and status. There were also once who said they have to get this fancy education because only then they could get married. Education have become a milestone for a job, getting married, high status. Without a fancy education, all of the above is not possible. 

Once I met a guy at a startup expo, he had a degree from IIT and IIM in India, I was so astonished to meet someone like this, I have only heard how hard it is to get into on of these institutions, the competition is so high an acceptance rate of only 0.7% and 0.25% respectively. This is even lower than Harvard. It maybe because of the high number of students who apply for these seats in India, having such a high population of young adults.

He was friendly, I couldn't talk much as he is every busy with the expo, one thing he told me was the suffering and pain he took to enter such a prestigious institution. He started preparation to study for IIT from a very young age, he have not enjoyed much family time or vacations, and of course he was very brilliant compared to the students at his age.  His motivation was to work for a top multinational company (MNC) and later start his own start up company. 

I thought to myself "wait a minute that is what my dream is all about". I too wanted to work in a MNC for a good amount of years and then after a good experience I can start a new business of my own. That's when the reality struck, MNC prefer students from tier-1 tier-2 colleges, to get into these colleges you will need a good amount of capital or must be extremely brilliant. The competition to get into these colleges are still high. The more the demand the more the prize. Now I know. I can't blame anyone here. It is life, and it is brutal. Only the fittest win. 

My Vision

Let's keep the past behind us, that's where they belong. Let's look forward to a new vision to education. A vision that I have for young children in schools. These are something I wanted when I was in school and when I look back at my school days, also what I have learned from being a teacher for a week . 

Inspire

Let us inspire the children to find, create, innovate, experiment, learn from mistakes, think outside the box, write, read, speak . 
We must make it a mission to let them understand that they don't have to be right on their first attempt, it is okay to try multiple times. 

It is okay to fail

Failure is inevitable, one day everyone loose to something and it is okay to loose. Learn from the experience and mistakes. Take the risk even though it is scary. Success is just around the corner. As a teacher on should let the children know that failure is not final. They can still try again and win.

Freedom of though and creativity

   I believe this is one of the most important one of all. Normally schools are the last place you want to be creative because being creative need go through a lot of trial and error method, think outside the box.  In schools we have to learn about being right on the first try, no mistakes, follow the rules all the time, be disciplined . 

What I have seen from these few years of experience is creativity and innovations comes from the most misfit and undisciplined students. They don't care about rules, they are outside the system hierarchy.   

        If students are given freedom to be more creative we will be able to enlighten students who are talented from a very young age. 

Care Our Teachers

"The teachers" should be something that also be given more consideration. As I said above teaching is a divine profession, the people who teach should be given more freedom to inspire students. Let's take care of our teachers so they can take care of our future citizens of the world. Let's not judge the teachers by how many students have scored high marks in their subjects instead let's ask them how can they change the education system, the system needs their feedback. Let's help them to teach students fall in love with learning.  Once we give good care to our teachers, the rest will fall in place. 

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