Education
The New Challenges Facing Education Today
As we enter into a new era, we can see many things changing around us. With these changes comes exciting times and events to hope for in the future. However, it also comes with new challenges that need addressing.
Recently, I have voiced my worries about where society is taking education. One of those worries is the lack of appreciation for education as monetary gain becomes the aim. Also, engaging our students is another worry of mine.
Still, as we move towards the future, I have seen some new challenges arising for education. That is not to dismiss those present, but these challenges bring about an opportunity.
The opportunity to reform education and restore its purpose is here. But, these challenges can lead to a weakening of the education system and the students we produce.
So, in this article, I will highlight the three challenges I see coming for education.
1. The Rise of Individualism
We are entering an age where people desire to be themselves without feeling judged. Of course, this is a hard balance to strike. When we put our differences out on display we are left vulnerable to judgement. However, we are also free to bring unique insights.
Collaboration requires us to be open, and the world of work realises this. Companies are also seeing benefits in autonomous working and allowing people to do work on their own time.
COVID-19 has shifted the way companies operate with many of them moving towards hybrid working. Our digital world has given us much flexibility.
Recently, I have seen universities launching degrees and courses that are hybrid. And these are traditional universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
Education is adjusting to allow for an individual’s needs to be met. And as the world shifts to putting the power in the individual’s hands, we must also be careful.
Education, along with many other operating systems in society, works on collective ideas. Understanding the values of a collective group are essential for its purpose.
As individuals seek to be themselves, there will be tension between the values we set and individuals. It is here where education can either crumble or thrive.
How education deals with this will be central to the values that education continues to have. As we seek to further define our values, we mustn’t lose our purpose. And that is to teach the beauty of knowledge.
2. Environmental Crises
We are all aware of the increasing pressure needed to build a more sustainable economy. Although these struggles have not directly harmed education, more will need to be done to educate the young.
My school was very active in teaching the students about the environment. We would pick up litter after lunchtime and grow plants. However, greater emphasis on the environment will need to be made if we wish to raise a generation ready to tackle climate change.
The reality is the world has become aware of the environmental crises coming too late. So we are in a fortunate position as we can begin to set things in place to pave the way out of the crises we have created for ourselves.
As educators, that means creating a curriculum that allows young people to think deeply about the environment. Unfortunately, a lot of my education on the environment was negative. Teachers taught me the world is going to end up on fire and how litter could get me fined.
We have a choice to either remain silent on the issue or educate the young in a better way. That means running mandatory programs about system and design thinking. And giving students a better opportunity to contribute to the solutions of the environment.
3. A Lack of Teachers
If you are a teacher, you are certainly aware of the teacher shortage that is occurring across the globe. In the UK, we have seen record teaching shortages leading to immense workload and many teachers quitting. It makes me wonder if there will be any teachers left to educate the young in the future.
Although this challenge has been about for some time, the way we approach it may be different in the future. As new digital tools emerge, is it time to take some of the workloads away from teachers and enforce automation where possible?
I spend a lot of time talking about how my teachers were uninspiring and often discouraged me. However, I also have to understand that being overworked and underpaid is never a formula for someone to produce their best work.
Also, as people become more individualistic, the rigid educational system may struggle to adjust. New teachers may want more autonomy and a desire to do things in a different way.
The rigid structure of education may frighten Gen Z from becoming teachers. Also, the lack of money may lead them to take their skills elsewhere rather than pass them on.
How we tackle this challenge will be pivotal to the future values we stand for. Not only this, but it will be essential to the future education of our society at large.
A Better Outlook for Education
These challenges can progress education to new heights. I find that these challenges have the potential to lead us to think outside the box.
By holding firm to the core educational values, we can navigate the storm and come out thriving. We can build an educational system that addresses these challenges whilst remaining true to itself.
What do you think the emerging challenges are? Also, how do you think we should go about solving the ones highlighted?
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