LEAD Magazine Issue 2019 | Page 46

LEAD MAGAZINE | 2019 human beings are not. Some will argue that the pros include that theses exams will separate the students who are academic. But the world out there requires that these students too be able to apply their academic skills upon graduation. Yet, many aren’t able to. Pasi Sahlberg, a very famous Finnish education expert, says that standardised testing systems kill innovation and creativity in the classroom. So, how important then is creativity and innovation in a classroom? It is most critical for the growth of the country and its economy. Students have to be creative, innovative and collaborative in subjects perceived as predominantly very left-brained - Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Information Technology, Mathematics, Economics, Accounting, History, Geography etc. The development of the curriculum has to head in this direction. Kids actually love learning this way! But, many adults ask, “Does this translate into exams?” or say, “This is not in the exams and that it distracts their children from prepping for the exams!” 5. Students need to learn for their future, not our present. We are fascinated by powerful, inspiring stories like these. So the question is ‘Should children or teens be introduced to Entrepreneurship and financial education at primary and secondary school?’ Would they grow up with the right values? Would they end up becoming materialistic? And do they have time for their studies? Not teaching this does not ensure that adults are automatically not materialistic nor do they all by default have all the right values when they become adults either. I hear so many stories that in most schools children get scolded and punished for selling cookies, erasers, crystal bracelets etc in school. They got into a lot of trouble with their teachers, and principals. Just imagine the impression this makes on these children and the friends around them. The danger is that the message children get at that age is that doing business is wrong. It is a bad thing. That stays with them till adulthood. Wait! Isn’t going to school to prep the kids for their careers in the future? Most are going to be working in a...wait for it...a business!! Aren’t studies to prep children to work in businesses or run businesses, their own or other people’s? Where is the connection right now between what they learn in school and that world they are stepping out into? 46 Our 14-year old student in Malaysia started his business doing copywriting on Fiver. He has international clients including an Australian wine company. These are applying whatever knowledge they have and learning what they don’t have. They are making their knowledge practical. They learn that their skills have value. Education has to be practical, not academic for the children and teen to work on theoretical stuff just for the sake of educating the children. The question is not if we should teach this but how do we make sure entrepreneurship become part of the school curriculum. 4. As educators, do we teach for a small percentage to succeed all the way to university or do we teach to make sure all the students are successful to contribute to their community and society. Right now, in many countries, the focus is on the top students. They make up about 5% of the student population. As educators, we have to make sure all students need to be educated...to succeed in life. I was asked this question, “Finland does not have a standardised testing system, in your view what are the pros and cons of a standardised testing system.” People are not standardised. So, why should exams be? The damage these exams do to those who do not fit into this system is horrific. We lose so many with potential and possibilities because this is not how they learn best. These exams test only academic skills in most cases. It is very one-dimensional and Currently, most education systems are still focusing on IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and in some countries and schools, there is a move towards EQ (Emotional Quotient). However, what we have to equip the students with for the future are CQ (Cultural Quotient or Curiosity Quotient) and AQ (Adaptive Quotient). The World Economic Forum estimated that for children entering primary school at this time, 65% of the jobs they will do when they leave school do not exist yet. , meaning we don’t really know what they will be. How does an education system address this issue. CERTAINLY NOT BY STANDARDISED TESTING WHICH TESTS THE PAST. Question is then how do you test the future? “The past is owned by those who know, the present is controlled by those who think, and the future belongs to those who can imagine.” (Author unknown) The world is changing more quickly than you can imagine, and it waits for no one. If our children stay put with the current education systems many countries have to offer, they will be left behind. Sir Anthony Seldon in his book, The Fourth Education Revolution, emphasises this “...we need to be educating our young to become more fully human.” For all of us in education to be aware of, we have to focus on growing the children to be more fully human in a world focused on becoming more digital. When we get this right, then we face the most unlikely problem a school can have. Our students don’t want holidays!