RE: Curriculum – a map or a maze?
I asked this same question about relevance but in college.
Long before then, my Mom's Mom or Grandmother began to hand me books as gifts as a kid. For the most part the books were best seller list novels.
I think that is the best way to do it. From there, I branched out into the technical. The good news is that I learned a lot about a lot things and on high levels: the bad news is no one thinks I am qualified and can't get paid for it at the proper level.
Things like, The American Scientific Encyclopedia. Reading all of those, or most of them was a real eye-opener. But not qualified to do anything! Hah hah, haha!
So, I don't know what Pakistan is like but here it used to be one could set there own destiny by borrowing books at the library and reading them.
I believe this debate on curriculum can be quite lengthy. It’s multifaceted and multifactorial. Obviously, any qualification requires certain criteria, and a course is designed accordingly. I have no objection to that whatsoever. My only point in this long, probably futile debate is just one thing — what is the thought process behind designing the curriculum, especially, for lower grades? Here, we are teaching some topics that are so outdated, generation after generation, that their purpose doesn’t seem to be education at all... it just feels like the goal is to torment the children.
Children rarely take any real interest in such topics. Why aren't we imparting knowledge that aligns with the demands of the modern age? I believe it's high time we openly discussed platforms like Instagram and social media in schools. If we can’t keep our children away from them, then there should at least be a proper course on their use—covering both the positives and the negatives. We should talk about their algorithms. This should now be part of basic education.
Let's also talk about taxes! I still haven’t been able to understand the process of filing a tax return myself. (Unrelated: So many people ask my husband to do it for them—and he does it voluntarily). But why? Why hasn’t this ever been part of the basic school curriculum?
Why aren’t we teaching kids how to make an omelette, or the basic life skills they need to survive? Why is Home Economics treated like an optional subject? There should be at least three periods a week dedicated to it. Everyone should know how to do basic stitching.
So that’s the heart of my point… it feels like nothing’s going to change. In this fast-paced world, especially in Pakistan where grade 12 (FA/FSc) marks the start of career or professional education, there’s just no time left. We fill kids’ minds with half-baked, often useless information, and then expect them to pursue medicine, engineering, or whatever else—without equipping them with even the most basic life skills.
I can feel your pain. That’s exactly how these systems operate—only aligned with a fraction of the society’s mindset and needs.
You bring up some good points, especially about real skills, like cooking, shop classes, tax returns, checkbook or account balancing. More...most of these things were taught by parents or grandparents, uncles, aunts, older cousins, neighbors, friends. Modern Society, if it should be called "society" seems to remove interpersonal interactions from people. So the key is to interact!
Now I noticed you wrote about Eid...today was Palm Sunday, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem upon a colt of an Ass and the people waved Palm fronds recognizing Him as King. And then there was the last supper. The betrayal by Judas of the twelve.
I have noticed the similarity between Islam(Eid), Christianity(Lent), and Judaism(Purim). Although as Jerry Seinfeld as Jewish comedian would say, "All you have to do as a Jew is not eat for one day and all your sins are forgiven. Christians pay retail for sin!" I guess Muslims do too.
No really, the dissolution of the family is insanity and total control by the state is what leads to slavery. Without families and religion, a terrible future might come upon the world.
So, interact and change the world.
Thanks @steemcurator01