"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn." - Alvin Toffler, American futurist.
We are living in a fast-paced and ever-changing world. Nothing is static. The digital era has crept upon us in a short span of time. It has taken over our lives forcing us to rethink, regroup and adapt in ways unimaginable a few decades ago. Artificial intelligence, robotics, and machine learning are paving the way to a new way of living. The steady advances in these disciplines are fast diminishing the prospects of finding work in traditional jobs and skills that were once mainstream but will soon not be enough.
New perspectives
This does not mean that we are doomed. Far from it! We have a very important role to play in the shaping of our future. Unlike machines, we are creators. We are masters of critical thinking, social interaction, creativity, imagination, and physical dexterity. We possess an imagination that, as Ada Lovelace said, brings together facts, ideas and concepts in new, original and ever-varying combinations and solutions. We can discern patterns and appreciate their beauty and usefulness.
Creativity involves values, intentions, aesthetic judgments, social emotions and personal consciousness. The arts and humanities teach us all these values and are as important as science, engineering, maths and technology. If we are to uphold our end of man-machine connectivity and become partners with the machines we have built, we must continue to nurture our creativity.
These inbuilt attributes need amplification and direction. Rather than competing with machines, our children need to be guided to work side by side with the advanced automation that will one day relieve us from tedious repetitive tasks and help us focus on what is important in the building of a sustainable and fair world.
Our changing role
Education plays an important role in the shaping of our future. The role of education should be to help all children to adapt and develop skills and the mindset to do anything rather than a particular thing. Education must therefore become a lifelong exercise for all people across all ages. It needs to develop and adapt according to the exigencies of the moment.
Switching from one path to another entails education guided by educators, that rather than feeding students information, guide them and help them facilitate their own learning and lines of inquiry. Intelligence as we know it is in fact the power to ask questions in order to discover further.
New challenges and beyond
Creativity and adaptability are key components. Inclusion is also important. We have the responsibility to ensure that every individual receives a high-quality education, from pre-kinder to primary and secondary, to special education, to technical, vocational and higher education, and beyond.
The challenges we are facing in the education sector globally stem mainly from changes to the economy and demographics, rising inequalities, and the shifting role of educators. In simple but realistic terms, our educators need to become facilitators. Their role in society is of utmost importance – they are becoming guides to future workforces on how best to live in the digital era.
The Ministry for Education has been investing heavily in the infrastructure of our schools, in the continued professional learning of our educators, in the recruitment of facilitators and learning support educators, and in education research that focuses on creating a multidisciplinary approach to learning.
Meaningful investment
Our educators are aware of the importance of blended inclusive learning, digital literacy, lifelong training, and professional development that eventually paves the way for job mobility. COVID-19 has brought these crucial skills to the fore, and we coped and adapted admirably to reach out to our students in the months spent at home.
Today’s young adults are more aware, decisive, and responsible for their own futures. This is a blessing. I am confident that the changes we need to make in our education system will fall into place naturally because our children are resilient and adaptable. They are not simply stake-holders but also protagonists along the process of change. The hard work, innovation, and dedication of our educators will transform our approach to education holistically in the years to come.
Focusing on a holistic approach to education will change our society. It will improve and strengthen the skills, communication, mobility and personal prosperity. In our respective roles, we should ensure that no one will be left behind. That is never a simple slogan but our commitment - together.
The digital era
Linking science, art and entrepreneurship is the ideal way forward. This is being done through the promotion of diverse thinking, co-creation, and cooperation between traditionally contrasting disciplines. With the expert help of our experienced educators on the ground, we can upgrade our system and make it more functional for future needs.
We aim to explore ways of teaching and engaging through the consolidation of past achievements with a clearer vision of what Malta and Gozo will require for successive generations. We cannoit afford the status quo by staring at the unknown. Indeed, we must embrace it and join forces across borders, and find solutions to the many issues that are impacting our lives. We are instrumental in the changes we need to go through in the digital era. Everyone's input and collaboration will help pave the way to a sustainable future for our children and future generations.
Dr Justyne Caruana is Minister for Education