In recent years, educators have been stressing on the imminent risks in the future of education. The education crisis might seem to plague public schools mostly. However, the challenges are likely to occur across most institutions. Thus addressing these problems must be a collective initiative by all the pertinent stakeholders.
The social burden is at the core of these challenges. At the moment, a substantial fraction of school going kids still come from families living in a certain degree of poverty. As sociological studies have shown over the years, poverty breeds several secondary problems for the groups involved. Consequently, some of these affected students find themselves caught up in drug abuse, crime, and violence. These anti-social behaviors end up spilling into the student’s academic life. Hence, teachers must educate learners on these social issues before they can even teach instructional knowledge.
Organizational challenges have similarly become prevalent in the education sector. These can manifest in several ways. Fixed bureaucracies and impractical regulations are some of the most daunting. This means that the needed change takes much longer to be implemented. Furthermore, incompetence from some of the administrations or union bodies can be just as frustrating. If a teacher has to put up with such failed systems and working conditions, they will inevitably quit their jobs.
The sector is also facing educational challenges of its own. The average number of dropouts from high school is rising steadily. More so, the percentage of high school students who attain the required academic qualifications to pursue higher education is equally decreasing. To add insult to injury, performances in international academic competitions demonstrate the decline in the quality of education vividly.
The Recurring Question
More often than not, these problems manifest in an intertwined fashion. This has prompted the recurring question between the relevant educators and executives: does the business have a significant role in education? If you have ever asked for essay help on any business education paper, you would have probably encountered this prevailing discourse. Previously, there was a subtle sense of caution between these two factions. Currently, the relevant stakeholders are challenging outdated notions as they examine the pertinent assumptions.
All players must recognize the interwoven set of challenges. Prior, it was thought that schools constituted the problem, whereas business presented feasible solutions. Moreover, it was believed that each sector must stand on its own to ensure optimal efficacy. The shifting landscape of the global economy shows how the detriment of each industry is affecting the other.
Subsequently, the new economy approaches to school and work as entwined. Therefore, the education system focuses more on producing learners who can make a meaningful impact on society. On the business side, the relevant players are taking the extra mile to ensure that schools impart the necessary academic knowledge and skills required to be part of a specific workgroup. It follows that school now focuses significantly on imparting relevant skills required for the learner to get employed. On the other hand, a job focuses on teaching and learning.
The Role of Business in Education
The competitive business world has realized that it cannot flourish if schools are not churning well-educated and motivate students continually. After all, a half-baked student is unlikely to thrive in today’s job market, leave alone tomorrow’s more competitive and harsher economies. Besides, skills shortage, especially in the rapid technological advancement, affects the economy globally.
This also entails acknowledging that the forecast crisis is already here with us. Hence, the strategies at hand encompass short and long-term solutions. Educators and executives agree on the need to find tenable approaches. Any skill and knowledge deficit can be solved by higher education that provides curricula that ensure learners keep up with the current trends in their respective industries and economy.
Companies and businesses will only thrive if their workers are competent enough to do today’s and tomorrow’s work. A proper look at educational studies shows that academic performance has not declined drastically over the years. Nevertheless, most businesses have employees whose qualifications are seemingly outdated. It only goes to show that most of the change is happening in the competitive business environment.
Thus, the education sector can prepare learners for the fast-changing and competitive present and future business world. It entails equipping them with the necessary academic and professional skills that boost an individual’s competence and gives them an edge in the competitive job market. In which case, the education and business sectors must deliberate, formulate, and implement strategies that equip learners with necessary work skills. It is no doubt that the technological revolution is bound to play a vital role in this shift. After all, we are in the infancy of the digital age.
