"Education should only be concerned with what is useful in life." Discuss.

"Qualified but not enlightened." Is this a fair description of educated people today?

"The main function of education is to get employed". Discuss, with relevance to your own society.

"Conformity should be the main aim of all schools." How far is this true?

How far do you agree that the arts should be taught as much as the sciences in school?

Is a sound knowledge of science and technology essential for a well-educated person in today's world?

"The arts and humanities are luxuries modern education cannot afford - it needs to focus on the sciences and mathematics to prepare young people for the future." Discuss.

Do you agree with the view that educational qualifications are an unreliable measure of a person's true abilities?

"Technology has taken over from teachers." Is this a fair assessment of education today?

"University education is no longer necessary in today's world." How realistic is this position?

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad.

"The word 'failure' should never be used in education." Discuss.

8 goals, of which #2 = achieve universal primary education

Impact: Enrolment in primary education in developing regions reached 91% (2015) up from 83% (2000)

17 goals

4.1: By 2030, all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary (aka 10 years) education.

4.3: By 2030, all women and men have equal access to affordable and quality technical, vocational (job training) and tertiary (incl. uni) education.

4.4: Substantially increase the number of youths and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship by 2030.

4.5: Eliminate gender disparities in education, and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations (eg wars) by 2030.

UNESCO study (100 countries) in 2006 reveals educating fiels and reducing gender gaps can promote democracy.

Malala Yusofzai (Pakistani schoolgirl) stood up against the Talibans to defend education for girls. In 2012, she was shot by a Taliban in the head.

Michelle Obama (Obama's wife) led the "Let Girls Learn" programme to lift people out of poverty by educating girls worldwide. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invested >$600m in the programme in 13 countries across Africa, Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

The college engages in knowledge-sharing between skilled professionals and the poorest of the poor in rural India.

Students are taught solar power, water, education, healthcare, crafts and communication. Each programme eventually becomes a source of employment.

Single mothers, divorced women, differently-abled and illiterate people are prioritised for training as they are most in need of support and employment oppotunities.

EX: Social Scientists posit that for every US$1 spent on education, between US$10-15 could be generated in economic growth. This growth includes benefits such as lower crime rates, better physiological and psychological health, nutrition etc.

ELAB: This makes governments want to invest in education given the very high returns (around 1000%-1500%) it provides.

ELAB: Education can go beyond knowledge, theories and literacy. Sometimes, simple but life-changing skills can be imparted to improve one's livelihood.

EX: In war-torn regions like Sudan, NGOs have prioritised health education over lessons in literacy and are educating young children and teenagers in areas of basic hygiene to lower their infant mortality rate as well as reduce the spread of diseases.

Despite pay raises and improved access to education, many Pakistani teachers do not show up for work. (i.e. Teacher Absenteeism)

Pakistan has "a deeply-flawed national curriculum that promotes xenophobia and religious violence". Thus few children from minority backgrounds attempt to enroll in government schools.

The Grammar School was introduced to improve social mobility for bright kids with poor backgrounds who couldn't afford private schools. However, very few disadvantaged kids get into this school as parents who can afford private tutoring can help their kids pass their exams, do so. 70% of entrants had some form of private tutoring (really expensive), however only 3% of grammar school pupils are entitled to free school meals, which is an indication of deprivation.

ELAB: Some schools still have very high proportions of high-income families and a lower proportion of lower-income families, which shows that the discrepancy in terms of income still lies.

EX: According to a Elitist Britain study, 7% of British students went to private school. However in the parliament (powerful positions), 35% of the Cabinet, 65% of Senior Judges and 52% of foreign office diplomats went to private school.

ELAB: Youth unemployment is high, employers complain that they cannot hire candidates with relevant skills, and the world has a surplus of graduates.

EX: 75m young people are unemployed due to job shortages and skill mismatch. World universities produce 5m graduates, and in Singapore, ~23% pursuing workforce have a degree.

EX: In 1968, late Mr Lee Kuan Yew called poetry "a luxury we cannot afford". Instead, he led the country down the road of scientific and industrial progress.

Counter: This was true to some extent in 1968, when Singapore was still a poor nation. Now that we are more developed, we can now afford this "luxury".

ELAB: Studying Arts imparts soft skills like critical thinking, communication, creativity and empathy. These soft skills are now highly sought after many employers as a 2019 study found.

EX: Literary works like "1984" by George Orwell serve as a reminder to us that without wisdom and morality, science and technology can lead us to destruction.

ELAB: Perennialists believe that one should teach the things that they believe are of everlasting importance to all people everywhere. The emphasis should be on principles and not facts. Since people are human, one should teach first about humans, rather than machines or techniques, and liberal rather than vocational skills.

EX: Singapore introduced CCE in 2014 to students to ensure that they learn values through 3 overarching ideas: Identity, Relationships and Choices, in 6 domains, starting with self and extending to family, school, community, nation and world.