Education is often considered as “The foundation of knowledge and success.” In a fast evolving world with constant progress, quality education ensures that individuals are not only equipped with knowledge, but also with critical thinking and adaptability that is necessary to navigate and improve society. On a personal level, quality education has shaped the way I deal with problems and challenges in life. And that is thanks to critical thinking. Critical thinking is an important skill everyone should develop. This enables the ability to work and make important decisions under pressure. With this, it is evident that my exposure to various educational systems have shaped my understanding of what quality education truly means.
For me, quality education means more than just academic excellence. But rather, involving holistic development, fostering emotional intelligence and critical thinking alongside academic skills. Coming from the S.T.E.M strand, I have experienced firsthand how education can be both empowering and limiting. While I undoubtedly gained substantial knowledge in science and mathematics, the curriculum sometimes overlooks equally important areas such as creativity and social engagement. The challenges faced by educators and learners are numerous. However, I will be mentioning a few in this reflection paper. Examples of the challenges faced by these people, which includes me and the reader of this paper are: Limited resources, overworked teachers and outdated teaching methods. All of these challenges contribute to a disengaging learning environment. Many students face financial barriers which hinders access to advanced learning materials and technologies that may be beneficial for them. Quality education is often blocked by a paywall with lots of worthless “miscellaneous” fees that are obviously overpriced for their quality. This further pushes the problem of educational inequality. These obstacles mentioned create a gap in learning outcomes, with students from schools that have good resources gaining more than those from less privileged backgrounds. It has been observed that many students in less privileged backgrounds have higher potential than those with privileged backgrounds. This may be because those coming from a less privileged background has a strong desire to learn in schools with higher quality education than those with privileged backgrounds. Those privileged students have no idea how them being so lucky to come from such background has a higher chance of becoming successful in life than those that want to go to a good school but cannot afford such.
Promoting quality education is essential for societal progress. Education not only shapes individual lives but also the future of a community, a society. Improvements in education have directly impacted economic development. With more students entering specialized fields like IT, healthcare and engineering which contributes to both local and global economy growth. However, with the rise of technology many students settle for work-from-home jobs (WFH) and applying abroad because of its benefits including comfortability and difference between the salary in our country and abroad. This might seem irrelevant to quality education, however, it correlates to the topic because as unfortunate as it might seem, having skilled professionals and human resources in specialized fields in our country is basically wasted potential similar to those coming from unprivileged backgrounds as many choose to go abroad in search of better job opportunities. Which is why globally, we can observe how countries with high educational standards tend to have lower poverty rates and more stable political environments.
This becomes a testament that technology has dramatically influenced the quality of education. In recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 Pandemic, online learning platforms have expanded access to information. Making learning more flexible and accessible. However, this shift also poses challenges. These challenges include a growing digital divide and the loss of personal interaction that enriches the learning experience. While technology brings convenience, it sometimes isolates students from the collaborative aspects of learning. Without social interaction, a student may lack in social skills. Making it harder for them to find a job that is suitable for them in the future. The lack of social skills also becomes a doorway to more problems which is why quality education is important.
To contribute to promoting quality education, I can start by actively engaging in local community initiatives both inside and outside school that provide tutoring or academic support to underprivileged students. Volunteering to teach S.T.E.M subjects to struggling students for example would help bridge gaps in access to resources. This fosters a more inclusive educational environment. An example of these initiatives is J-SAP. Where Josenians gather to study together and help each other out in whatever subjects they are facing challenges in.
In conclusion, the critical reflection on education reveals that quality education has many sides. Requiring more academic knowledge. As we move forward in an increasingly interconnected and tech driven world, ensure that education adapts to the needs of all learners, especially if we are catering to 21st century learners, whilst addressing societal and economic challenges is crucial. Through personal and community efforts, we can all play a role in shaping the future of education. For quality education shapes our society’s future by becoming the foundation of knowledge and success.
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