Education is undoubtedly the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world, as alluded to by Nelson Mandela. However, there is a new challenge. Maybe, not necessarily new but it has become more noticeable recently. Those spending more money investing in private schools, and not government ones, especially in their children's education are beginning to rethink their stance. Generally, the decision is not paying off and that creates a frustration of being cheated after years of sacrifice, hoping private schools as a pre-requisite prior to tertiary education offers some form of leverage in securing jobs. That is one of the tragedies of the 21st century.
An exception may be given to wealthy individuals that do not necessarily send their children to school to secure ordinary jobs, but to continue family legacies and further extend influence across critical sectors.
Somebody once shared a picture, involving two children, one from lack and the other from abundance. The caption read, "One day they will meet in university." Clearly, the context suggested that although their different backgrounds, education would equalize them and most likely elevate them to a mutual university in hopes of gaining an education. Obviously, there is a conclusion here that learners from all backgrounds, with the exception of very wealthy individuals, end up learning at the same college or university with a passionate desire to make it.
The choice of schools may be largely due to preference. Sometimes, wealthy people take their children to government schools although most of them prefer schools matching their status. Fair enough. But, it is surprising when financially struggling parents choose private schools for their children. Although a testament of their commitment to cement a certain future for their children, they ought to be aware that the same children may perform just as brilliantly in a government school.
There is no doubt that private schools give their learners a head start, in terms of learning the English language and getting value for money. Though, ultimately learners from government schools catch up and there is rarely any academic difference with those from private schools. If anything, many argue learners from government schools are not only down to earth but also innovative and hard working because they are not pampered like in private schools. This quality is pointed at by many academicians as being the reason why students with a government school background thrive more than those from a private school background at college/university, which is a place where there is no one to offer guidance and motivation, but the students have to fend for themselves.
If that is the case, there may be no need to send a child to a private school if finances are not allowing. Not to say it is wrong, but it may not be advisable to starve for the sake of gambling. Sending a child to a private school in hopes of securing an ordinary job after university is gambling because that job is no longer certain. It may be understandable if finances are either not allowing or allowing but the sponsors of that private education are doing it solely based on preference. If not for this reason, then a tragedy awaits because it will hurt to have sacrificed in vain. Moreover, those that underwent government schools will also be competing for the same jobs as those that attended private schools. Clearly, private school education may not guarantee a certain future where jobs are promised. Instead, private school education must be invested in for other reasons other than securing ordinary jobs and only by those that can afford it.
Today's educational choices must be viewed using a different lens. Times have really changed. Education is not necessarily guaranteeing a job. Therefore, those that are struggling financially because they are investing in private school education may need to rethink their decision, especially if their goal is to have their child secure an ordinary job. They need to rethink it because their goal can still be realized at a government school but with some excess money to spend on basic needs.
One of the tragedies of the 21st century is that most people financially suffer by over investing in private school education when they could easily tag along with government school education. They would save more, be financially relieved and still compete for the same jobs with those that have a background in private school education. At the end of the day, a child from a poor background may still get a chance to undergo tertiary level education. The same goes with those from the middle class, although many may choose to suffer financially but the end game leads to fighting for ordinary jobs. Those from wealthy families undergo expensive education, which may not be for the purposes of securing an ordinary job but for the luxury of learning, expanding family businesses and influencing critical sectors in the economy. Sometimes, the wealthy may choose government schools on account of preference.
Whatever the case, education is no longer the same. One of the tragedies of the 21st century must be avoided at all costs.
