Time to revitalise school education

Our education is the main building block not only for individual growth but for societal progress as well. While the traditional education system seems quite successful in imparting basic educational knowledge, the inadequacies in our early education level are impacting profoundly on the preparedness of students for higher education.

The lack of emphasis on quality of education in earlier years of schools is becoming the root cause for the absence of essential and critical thinking skills in young blood which are key to success at every stage.

One of the primary causes is the outdated teaching methodologies in local schools. Standardised testing, rote learning, and mere emphasis on memorisation are the main pillars in many educational institutes. Yet, it is imperiling that the traditional rote-learning approach can leave students ill-equipped for challenging higher education where they need to use their analytical and critical thinking skills for a broader understanding of the different concepts.

This leads to shaking their confidence and their passion for learning becomes their night dreams. Also revitalising school education is not just a matter of tweaking curriculum, it is to foster the holistic development of the students.

In the Sultanate of Oman, education has received due prominence and attention from the government and it is available free of charge to everyone. Also, Oman’s Vision 2040 is a supreme plan for the country’s progress towards the education sector. However, we must make a swift shift in teaching methodologies at the school level.

In addition to academic competencies, nurturing creativity and innovation should be an integral part of educational goals. Integrating practical applications can be instrumental in fostering a well-rounded educational experience. Moreover, in this digital age, introducing coding and digital literacy from an early age can equip the learners with essential required skills for the future. For this, there is a dire need for student-centred learning centres for tailored interactive and practical approaches where the focus should be on real-world communication scenarios to develop such skills that are immediately applicable.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can help to build a learning environment beyond the classrooms with students’ exposure to diverse experiences to prepare them for the globalised landscape of higher education. These centres at school levels can prepare students for the latest demands of higher education and the rapidly evolving global job market.

Furthermore, our teachers need to be provided with professional development opportunities to update their pedagogical practices that will facilitate them to cater to the diverse learning styles of educators.

There should be continuous training programmes where the primary focus needs to be given to integrating technology into the classrooms, fostering creativity, and developing strategies for personalised learning. Teachers today face an uphill battle as they juggle diverse responsibilities including lesson plans, managing classrooms, fostering students’ engagement, along administrative tasks. To facilitate effective and meaningful professional development, there is a dire need to alleviate teachers’ burden as well.

A reduction in administrative tasks and excessive paperwork can free up valuable time for educators to get themselves engaged in training sessions, workshops, and collaborative tasks where they can be more inclusive and supportive in the educational ecosystem.

Our future relies on an educated and skilled workforce and a solid foundation during primary and secondary education is contingent on a robust and effective higher education system. It is time to take decisive action to bridge the gap between school and higher education. The benefits of a revitalised educational system go beyond the classrooms and individuals. Such systems shape a generation of lifelong learners to navigate future challenges. By prioritising a holistic and forward-thinking approach to primary and secondary education, we would come to a position we will not only secure our future generation but it will be a collective contribution towards the progress of our global community.