Is Education keeping up with the acceleration happening in the world?

As someone who went to school in the eighties I have been fascinated by how much has changed in the world and yet also has not.

Technology has definitely changed from one computer per school to every child having their own tablet and phone.

No parent would dream of calling a school unless it was a dire emergency back then and yet now parents are very invested in their child's education and want communication from the schools.

War, poverty and starvation in the World has not changed but the engagement of children wanting to make a difference has increased.

Students having a Voice in their schools has also improved for the betterment of the schools.

And now the world of education is changing increasingly to offer children and parents more choice. Since lockdown more parents have realised that their children do not have to be in a physical building to learn. Online schools and Home education is becoming an accepted and even preferred choice for a growing number of parents. Independent Schools have been raising their game for a number of years and offering children an amazing life while being educated. Online tutors are growing and offering support to individual students to help them through the dense thicket of academia.

The thing that hasn't changed for the majority of parents is that choice comes with a cost which most can't afford. When I was taking my A Levels this was considered unusual, as women in N. Devon in the mid eighties were expected to be mothers and housewives. I was lucky to have supportive parents and because I wanted to be a librarian my headmistress assumed I was looking at spinsterhood!

Now more than ever children need to know what they want to achieve with their education and how is it connected to the world of work. I am not sure that mainstream education has caught up with the accelerated world of work we are currently in and the skills needed to succeed in this world. However, I would love to be proved wrong.

The Future of Jobs Report 2025 | World Economic Forum

If anyone wants to know my favourite quote from my headmistress when my year group started L6 just ask!