By Melissa Grant
Many Australians are worried about what’s being taught in schools, with new research revealing few are confident the current curriculum will equip children with skills needed for jobs of the future.
Although technology is playing an increased role in the workplace, there are fears the use of technology in the classroom is impacting traditional learning.
The Real Insurance Future of Australian Education Survey of 1000 people in June revealed major concerns about the future of the nation’s children.
More than eight in 10 of those surveyed believe the school curriculum isn’t equipping kids with the skills needed for future workplaces.
Nearly three-quarters believed the skills and subjects being taught would be irrelevant once students entered the workforce.
Almost a quarter of those surveyed were concerned the school curriculum was lacking when it came to basic literacy (writing, reading and arithmetic), while 13.7 per cent were concerned children weren’t being taught life skills. Another 12.3 per cent believed the curriculum wasn’t equipping kids with social skills.
While the vast majority of those surveyed were comfortable with the technology-based learning systems used in schools, two-thirds believed ‘virtual teachers’ or ‘virtual classes’ would result in a poorer quality education.
Nearly three in five thought these technology changes would likely reduce the amount of interaction children have with teachers and give them fewer opportunities to practice dealing with real world situations.
Business Futurist Morris Miselowski said technology in the classroom often led to a heated debate around the pros and cons.
“But while there is some validity to the concern that more tech in classrooms may lead to fewer interpersonal interactions, the potential benefits of technology – such as providing access to top-quality education to more children and finding new ways to engage students – shouldn’t be understated,” he said.
Most of those surveyed believed there was too much pressure placed on children to choose subjects when they were undecided on which path to take professionally.
Information Technology (IT) was ranked as the top subject they’d prioritise when it came to preparing children for jobs of the future, followed by maths and English.
One in six said IT and the area of computer study would be the ideal profession for their children, while one in eight believed their kids should enter the medical field.
To read the report, visit https://www.realinsurance.com.au/
