Question

Is education only for employment? What is the purpose of education?conduct a debate on it?

Answer 1

Put a cross-section of people in a room and ask them ‘What is the purpose of education?’ and you are likely to get as many different answers as there are people. Should we adopt a national statement on the purpose of education to guide our vision? You will need to log in to vote and comment.

There are many different views on the purpose of education. Some people say it is about each young person achieving their ambitions and becoming a successful member of society. An employer might put the emphasis on the skills needed in the world of work. A government official might stress having highly skilled workforce.

Others reject a utilitarian approach and argue that we should instill in children a lifelong love of learning so that they are able to adapt and innovate as the world changes. A parent might say that emotional wellbeing and becoming a well rounded adult are as important as educational achievement.

Of course many will argue that the education system should do all of these, however ambitious that may be!

Countries such as Singapore have reach a shared view on the purpose of education and used this to inform curriculum, assessment, teacher training and accountability systems.

What are your views? Register or login and let us know what you think. Here is a question you might like to consider:

Should we adopt a national statement on the purpose of education that all political parties sign up to? If, so what might it say?