Skilled but Incompetent

Veteran journalist and public commentator Ian Boyne has in his article entitled, "What's An Education For?" Published in the Sunday Gleaner October 7, 2012, has provided a sober analysis of the misguided focus of modern education. The article is a call to the consciousness of his reader, highlighting the deficiencies within the formal education system- a criticism of what society values as success (emphasizing technical skills in order to earn a living, rather than fostering an objective thinker who can reason critically, and is therefore well rounded and socially competent to handle life's many experiences).

Boyne defines rounded education as "the ability to critically unmask assumptions and presuppositions commonly accepted as natural, commonsensical, unquestioned. It is the ability to grasp what others miss, to make connections between ideas, and to surgically analyse issues." He emphasizes that persons are trained but not educated, there is no room for critical thinking or reasoning and lack basic comprehension skills even among the ‘educated'.

The article calls for a new way of viewing education, noting the need to also have high on the agenda non- technical subjects that would expose the student to a myriad of ideas and perspectives therefore challenging the status quo. Such a revamped education system would promote independent thought, deep understanding of concepts and not what currently exists which is geared towards regurgitation. The motif throughout the article notes that while through education we are ", matching training with skills in demand". There is a greater purpose when there is training for development –"teaching individuals to earn a living as well as how to live in society". He also argues that "An education and a vocation is not to be conflated."

Supporting his criticism of what currently stands, Boyne places on the table the key features which would be addressed in a new form of education. This is done through the article's sub- titles which covers broadening the individual's knowledge base, emphasizing comprehension rather than rote learning, exposing students to diverse content and perspective, focusing on the whole individual and developing the soft skills needed to be better able to deal with life's conflicts, other people and civil responsibilities, and paying attention to more than the recollection of facts. And I quote, "They need to know how to be good citizens. They need to know how to reason about politics, economics, sociology, philosophy and religion. They need a rounded education - not just an education that prepares them for their speciality."

Boyne puts up strong arguments about education and its short comings through the use of sarcasms for example "worryingly, that we won't be able to compete in this globally demanding environment; that we won't be able to attract