The importance of education is undeniable in this era, as it provides not only the foundations of intelligence but also the building blocks of the skills needed in many modern careers today, and therefore the pressure on students is also increasing.
Over 25% of over a thousand students surveyed by YouGov, said they suffered from a mental illness whilst taking part in their studies. Mental illness includes depression, anxiety and eating disorders, and if people are developing these at such early stages, we must then look to think about both the effect this has on the individual and as a society.
As an individual, the effects of mental illness can induce lack of confidence and as a result of these lead to insecurities in their capabilities of their studies and if these students are not given the proper support and guidance on how to deal with their mental illness it could lead to over a quarter of our next generation of workers to not be able to confidently deal with the pressures of the working world. This would then lead to a social decline in those are able to take on high pressure roles in careers such as doctors, lawyers and other important roles in the community that require similar skills like police officers and other emergency services.
However, even the remaining students not suffering from mental illness may still not be equipped for life outside of school, purely based on the education system itself and how students are tested. In the majority of jobs, there would not be a need to revise information and then be tested on it in order for an employer to see their employees skill, as it would be demonstrated through their work, whereas students are made to be tested on knowledge that may not even be relevant for their potential career. Although, exams do help to develop students analytical and evaluative skills, and therefore can be beneficial, it is still not a completely accurate way of measuring a students capability.
In order for society as a whole to move forward, we must protect and guide those that are to follow us by allowing them to prosper in their own environment, and by offering our assistance we can help ensure that the future of our economy is in safe hands.
Hannah Laffan Coloma Convent Girls' School
