The Factor of ‘E’

A School is quite like the human body, as good as its systems. The systems work when effective processes are in operation. Does that mean a school will get old and perish? A huge NO, to that. The worlds over certain schools have kept getting better year after year.

The knowledge and skills that an educated person will need to have 20 years from now will be markedly different from what school systems currently provide. In fact, we cannot wholly estimate what an educated person will look like a couple of decades hence.

Thus, school face the significant challenge of having to develop, what the students need to learn today and be prepared for tomorrow and the day after.

The Michael Barber* Model states:

Well Educated = E (K+T+L)

The ‘K’ stands for knowledge, ‘T’ for thinking, ‘L’ for leadership (leading both oneself and others), and ‘E’ for ethical underpinning. Is this the model that will last next few decades?

The factor of leadership has significance as it is the skill needed to convert original thought into action. Then there is the all-important E of ethics. How often have we seen the effects of bad E, in human history?
 Questionable ethical underpinnings of Queens and Kings, Head of states, political leaders, professionals of all hues and even school head boys have often devastated careers, even generations.

*Sir Michael Barber is chief education advisor to Pearson and a global expert on education reforms.