I think the education system should prioritise skills a bit more than content, but not completely ignore content either. In my opinion, students do still need basic knowledge, because without it, it would be hard to think properly about a topic or even join discussions in class. But at the same time, just memorising heaps of content does not always help people in real life. A lot of students can remember facts for a test and then forget them straight after, which honestly shows that the learning did not really stay with them. Skills like critical thinking, communication, problem solving, teamwork and being able to adapt are things people will keep using in university, work and everyday life. For example, knowing a formula or definition is useful, but being able to apply it, explain it, or question it is even more important. The world is also changing really fast, especially with technology and AI, so people need to know how to learn new things, not just repeat old information. I also think focusing too much on content can make school feel stressful and repetitive, because students are pressured to “cover everything” instead of actually understanding it. Skills-based learning can make education feel more meaningful, since students can see why they are learning something. Still, I do not think content should be pushed aside completely, because skills need knowledge to grow from. You cannot think critically about something if you know nothing about it. So overall, I believe the education system should give slightly more priority to skills, while still teaching important content. A balance is probably the best approach, but if one had to come first, I would say skills matter more for the long term.

Mikaylah Nguyen