Copyright trinidadexpress
OUR schools are still running on an outdated model that no longer prepares students for the world they’re entering. We teach children to memorise facts, follow rules, and pass exams, yet we fail to teach them how to think critically, solve problems, or adapt to change. Education should be evolving with society, but it remains stuck decades behind. A student today can recite Shakespeare or solve quadratic equations but might struggle to write a simple job application, budget their money, or communicate confidently in an interview. We test algebra but not emotional intelligence, grade essays but ignore mental health, and praise high scores while overlooking creativity. Students can spend 12 years in school and still graduate unsure of how to pay a bill, start a business, or understand the world of AI that already -surrounds them. Look at the classrooms: rows of desks, rigid timetables, and lessons that discourage curiosity. We continue to tell students that failure is bad, even though every successful innovator from Elon Musk to Steve Jobs built their success by learning from failure. Subjects like coding, environmental studies, and entrepreneurship should be part of the core curriculum, not optional afterthoughts. Art, music, and physical education should be treated as essential tools for expression and well-being, not “extras” to be cut when budgets tighten. Meanwhile, teachers are overworked, underpaid, and expected to perform miracles without adequate support. Many use their own money to buy classroom materials or work extra hours to help struggling students. We need smaller class sizes, better teacher training, and modern resources, not just new buildings and “old school teachers”. Education reform should also include more practical exposure. Imagine if every student had to complete a community project, an internship, or even a basic financial literacy course before graduating. Imagine schools that taught conflict resolution, empathy, and civic responsibility alongside mathematics and English. These are the skills that build a strong, adaptable society. If education is truly the foundation of a nation’s progress, then that foundation needs rebuilding with creativity, compassion, and real-world relevance at its core. Our children deserve schools that prepare them for life, not just for exams. Terrence Nanlal
