How can education become better fit for purpose?

Throughout the world questions are being asked about how to make education more relevant, enabling all young citizens to flourish and develop skills that will enable them to lead happy, meaningful lives now and as the future unfolds. Typical of sentiments being expressed are those associated with ‘The Ultimate Wellbeing in Education’ conference in October 2019 in the University of Buckingham. Its hosts explained, “The aim of positive education is about preparing young people for the tests of life, not just a life of tests.”

We have written a series of values-themed articles for InnovateMySchool prompting ideas on how to advance the quality and effectiveness of education systems, especially for children in primary and secondary schools. Recognising that one system can’t fit all when it comes to education, there is a piece is about how each child has a unique profile comprising his or her DNA and personally chosen values. When promoting this article, InnovateMySchool suggested that youngsters would benefit enormously from being taught more to their individual profiles.

Points to ponder - as the Dalai Lama says, “We must promote basic human values, the inner values that lie at the heart of who we are as humans. We must teach people, especially our youth, the source of happiness and satisfaction. We must teach them that the ultimate source of happiness is within ourselves. Not machines. Not technology. Not money. Not power.”