Technology must co-exist with empathy

Abrar Quazi, Indian, father of a Grade 6 six student

“I closely follow technological developments and how schools can respond to the changes. Most of the innovations and new careers are driven by technological changes.

I don’t think there is much that schools can – or should – do to cope with all the changes, as ‘traditional’ education – arithmetic, reading, writing, science – is indispensable.

Children, especially young ones, will always need this foundation and schools are the right place to build this strong base. Having said that, I also believe parents have a responsibility to be actively involved in their day-to-day studies, to see if there are problems areas where they need help.”

Yuva Gurbaxani, British, mother of a Foundation Stage 1 pupil and a Year 3 student in a UK school in Dubai

“I think the focus on too much technology, especially at the primary school level, runs the risks of forgetting to teach empathy. Yes, times are changing – driven mostly by technology evolving at the speed of light – but our DNA has not changed. Schools have a responsibility to educate but they also have a responsibility to nurture and provide a secure environment to children.

I believe it’s unrealistic to expect schools to prepare children for the future job market because the market keeps changing. Remember, it takes many years for a student to finish schooling.

Ultimately, graduates – university graduates – will have to learn on the job as far as evolving careers are concerned.

Sathish Gummadi, India, IT professional, father of two children, 2 children, 11 and 8.

“The traditional classroom model is still positive, but I do believe there should be some changes and a move towards using more technology within the classroom.

These days it’s important for students to get a more hands on and practical approach so that when they do graduate from school they are ready for the real environment outside of school. The way they are taught should be more than just about the grades they are getting and how well they do in their exams, it should also involve giving them skills that they can use in their lives. There are some students who may not get the best grades at school but once they’re out of school, you can see them performing very well and even better than students who had better grades than them. So we need to broaden the way we educate our children and go beyond looking at the curriculum from a purely academic standpoint only, we don’t want our children finishing school and being unprepared for what comes next.”

Edgar Loyola, Philippines, father of two children, 19 and 17.

“My view is that students in schools these days must be given both the theoretical and practical approach to studying. Students will be better prepared for the job market once they graduate if they are taught real life skills, and not just educated on a purely theoretical level that relies on how well they score on their exams.

It’s obviously still important for them to get good grades, but this should be complimented with practical lessons as well.

Today, the competition in the job market is very tough, there are new types of jobs being created every year by new industries, and so it’s vital that students don’t lag behind and are prepared with the skills they need that will allow them to not only join the job market but to also be successful.”