It is often said that the subjects taught in school are too academic in orientation and that it would be more useful for children to learn about practical matters such as home management, word and interpersonal skills. To what extent do you agree? What subjects should be taught in schools in your opinion? Write an essay for a university lecture making appropriate recommendations.
OR
The university or academic classes teaching the qualities that you need to become a successful person in today's world.
The higher education offered by universities is formal and academic. Knowledge is imparted through lectures but the knowledge is limited to books. The students are expected to supplement classroom lectures with reference material and extra reading. This formal education has no link with real life. Besides, no practical training is given.
Such a kind of education helps students to get a degree and finally a job. But the students are not taught useful skills like time management, interpersonal skills, decision making, how to manage stress building up a positive attitude, and so on, which can ensure in their job. Such skills teach them how to manage day-to-day problems and challenges of life and help them to be successful not only in their career but also in personal life. This will teach them to solve problems more effectively and avoid unnecessary stress.
The educational institutions organize a lot of extracurricular activities such as debates, discussions, sports, cultural functions, fairs and other such activities. The students are given a free hand to manage such events. These activities help the students to acquire qualities like competitiveness, leadership, learn spirit, self management, decision making and so on. These qualities are helpful to some extent.
It is true that student will gradually acquire these skills as he goes out in the world and learns to stand on his own feet. Some may feel that there should be more focus on formal education, because formal education can only be imparted in the classrooms. But if these skills were taught to the students, the students will be more efficient and cope with the challenges of life more effectively.
To be successful in life one should be successful not only in ones career but also in ones personal life too. Hence university education must focus on personality development of the students. There should be a balance between academic and non-academic subjects; between knowledge and skills. Knowledge should be linked with real life and not confined to books and classroom.
Present a case to a funding agency arguing either for or against the following statement. ’Training for work is far more important than providing a broad-based education'.
Schools provide formal education to children. They offer theoretical knowledge and put less emphasis on practical training. They provide a broad based education so that the students have a wide knowledge. They want the students to have knowledge of many subjects like mathematics, science, social studies and a few languages. This is helpful to them when it is time to develop their career. They have a wider choice. In my opinion too formal education should come in later, so that the educational foundation of the students can be strong.
Knowledge should not be limited to a few subjects. The student should be taught as many subjects as possible to be truly intelligent.
Nowadays it is difficult to have a single career for the rest of one’s life. The market conditions are never stable and one has to be flexible and ready to adjust to changing situations. There is still competition and saturation in every field. There is wide spread unemployment and less security in the job market, even in the advanced countries. Nowadays it is difficult to say how long one can carry on with the same jobs. Any time it may become necessary to switch over to another career or pursue further studies or acquire new skills. An individual cannot be assured of a job for lifetime.
Specialization will limit a person’s knowledge to a particular subject. His mental horizon will not be broadened. All his mental facilities will not develop. His skills and experience will be limited.
Knowledge is food for mind. A broad based education is necessary for the intellectual development of the mind. The students should have wider interests. Specialization should come in much later. It should not be introduced at the school level when the child’s intellectual development is still incomplete.
AGAINST
In societies, where education is not expensive or where the parents support their children’s education, there is nothing wrong for the schools and educational institutions to offer broad based education and introduce specialization only after a certain age. Hence the cultural background of the country must be kept in mind too.
In advanced western countries the youngsters have to bear their cost of educational and living expenses after a certain age. By the age of 18 the youngsters leave their parental homes, take up employment and start supporting themselves financially. The earlier the youngsters can decide what line they will like to pursue, the better it is for them. The cost of education is high. The students will save their valuable time and money. They cannot afford to take up a course of study which will serve no useful purpose to them. Hence in such societies specialization should come in as early as possible.
They can begin their career at an early age if specialization training is given earlier. Specialization will improve their knowledge, skill and efficiency. They will be more efficient. The success ratio will be high.
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