The education system does not teach students to process knowledge

One of most significant issues facing youths in this era is the deteriorating education system which does not respond to their needs. Youth is that chapter of life where dreams are built, hope is kindled, and a bright future is foreseen. Those are the years to understand yourself, discover your potential, grab opportunities and pursue success. Those are also the years to foster moral principles, construct your value system and begin a new journey on the path of the ‘right.’ Education is the pillar by which this is accomplished.

Our system stresses collecting knowledge without understanding its value. How about the processing of knowledge, and using inspiration, visionary ambitions, creativity, risk, the ability to bounce back from failure and motivation? Most education institutions don’t consider these skills. These skills are associated with understanding the value of knowledge. Anyone who does not have the ability to put clear thoughts on paper is labelled a failure. All natural skills, including knowledge processing, do not count. The fact is, what is exercised grows stronger, what is ignored stays dormant. The classroom emphasizes academic learning, leaving all other natural skills in the closet.

Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and many other super achievers never finished secondary school. They succeeded because they knew how to research, collect information for a selected project and process knowledge. The classroom environment does not work that way; it focuses on the collection of knowledge without a clear purpose, other than high grades. If the purpose does not motivate, other than to please the teacher, then there is nothing to process outside of memorizing answers for tests. The typical student is challenged in the academic field, while being starved of motivation. A lack of motivation means there will be a lack of knowledge-processing skills.

Tests do not measure intelligence or ability; they do not measure how the mind processes information, or how motivating experiences develop persistence, or how the mind sorts out instincts, opinions, evaluations, possibilities and alternatives. Knowledge by itself has no value; it is like a dictionary filled with words. Words by themselves have no value; it is the process of stringing them together that gives them value. Our education system is becoming like an exercise in memorizing the dictionary.

When students have memorized selected knowledge, then they will be given a one-day test, which will influence employment opportunities for the rest of their lives. Natural skills are not considered. Achievers in life use inspiration and motivation to overcome barriers. Teaching for  tests does not inspire or motivate anyone; memorizing does not inspire a love to learn – in fact, it does just the opposite, it turns off the desire to learn. Education’s goal should be to develop a love to learn that stays with students throughout a lifetime.

I therefore believe that if educational programmes are designed with the youths in mind we can better prepare them to be the great leaders of tomorrow. Education should serve as the means to bring about the desired change in society, to develop a generation of virtuous individuals and thus contribute to the development of good human beings. Education should help the youths define their career objectives, decide what they want from life and enable them to achieve success in their fields of interest.

It is important that the education for Guyanese youths aims at developing a social awareness. It is important that the training given them consists of environmental education and values like saving animals, curbing deforestation and controlling pollution. They should have brought before them the present-day problems faced by the society, and they might come up with innovative solutions to the problems of today. Education should instil in youths a feeling that they belong to the society and that it is their responsibility to drive it on the righteous path.

What are we doing with hundreds of post-primary students who do nothing on a daily basis in school?  Times are changing. We must stop obsessing over becoming book smart and instead focus on unleashing our passions. Without living out our passions we just add to the clutter of the world.

Yours faithfully,
Adel Lilly