In many education systems, subjects such as maths and science are seen as more important than arts subjects such as drama and literature.
What are the reasons for this? Is this a positive or a negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Reason
Most governments are trying to create competitive workforce: maths and science provide foundation for new technology
It is commonly believed that this can help ensure a progressive career and higher compensation
These subjects tend to provide tangible outcomes rather than just subjective learning
Positive
Make future progress and research possible
This can help drive economic growth
Ensure a stable career and earning with wider choices
Negative
This is likely to affect the creativity
Basic learning and holistic development are made possible by arts, which is likely to be missed
The contemporary curriculum is increasingly becoming STEM centric, and discarding arts in all its manifestations. Although the attributes of this shift highlight the concerns of society, it remains to be seen how this will impact society: favourably or detrimentally.
This phenomenon is propelled at macro level by the intent of policy-makers, of almost every country, to turn their economies into knowledge-based ones that are driven by technology and research, and bolstered by appropriately skilled manpower. To realise this ambition, it is imperative to alter the academic architecture in such a way that it churns out essential technical acumen that can create and also engage with futuristic technologies, and render a competitive edge over other societies.
Similarly, at micro level, the growing craving for establishing a progressive and well-compensated career is the most predictable motivation behind the formal tuition and learners opting for this arrangement; the success, today, is gauged by the amount of salary packages received, and the level and influence one enjoys in an organisation, and not subjective wisdom. As per surveys, this priority has helped many tremendously by allowing them to attain their ambition and prosperity.
Nevertheless, despite engendering a tech savvy population capable of engaging with modern means, this emphasis is going to expose society to numerous hurdles, the upcoming generations are likely to become incapable of steering through challenges facing them, by virtue of lacking creativity, something that can only be developed by pursuing arts, to discover innovative solutions.
In hindsight, although the gains being made by redefining academic syllabus leaning in favour of technical adroitness seem to shine brightly, these are ephemeral: it is hard for any nation to survive in the long run without resourcefulness, a trait that only art can inculcate, leading to catastrophic consequences.
INTRO 1:
It is being observed that the modern curriculum is becoming STEM centric, and discarding arts in all its manifestations. This can be attributed to several causes, but it raises concerns as it is likely to impact the future of society detrimentally.
