Is There Something Wrong With Our Education?
There is an ongoing debate on the utility of a liberal arts education in Singapore. I guess the debate would not occur if we had a more holistic view towards education. Then again, the educational charter is to create useful citizens, whatever one defines as a useful citizen.
Unfortunately, this utility-based approach to education has led most to take it rather literally. Many Human Resource Departments would not even consider you for employment if you do not have the relevant educational papers, even if you have real world experience and the correct aptitude for the job. That for an entry-level position, let alone a more senior position.
In return, our perspective towards education becomes even more narrow, that we no longer think that a Mechanical Engineer can qualify to work in a Chemical Engineer's position. So the real debate is not whether there is value in a liberal arts education, but whether we perceive that someone trained in one field, can pick up another subject or topic through interest and exposure.
Most of us who have gone through university would agree that the content of the courses were not that useful when we started work, and significant relearning had to occur on the job. So, by the same token, would it make any difference if the job candidate were not exactly trained in that particular area? And that the main points of consideration would be aptitude and attitude?
So why are we harping about the utility of the liberal arts education? Perhaps it is because we have approached tertiary education like a factory production line, and many graduates do not think, but just follow instructions and manuals. So, perhaps the real debate should be our approach to education and the methods to achieve it!