Long gone are the days of going to school, followed by college or university then securing a full-time 9 to 5 job in an office… thankfully! It’s not as simple as one size fits all and as we’ve seen that the standard education system alone doesn’t determine a successful career or is cut out for everyone. That’s one of the reasons why many students these days prefer ‘progressive’ educational institutes as opposed to the traditional ones.
I have gone through the rigid structure of traditional education myself and while it offers a sense of organisation and order, the same trait can be a disadvantage as well. On one hand this form of education develops productive workers and on the other hand it stifles creativity and curbs individuality.
To prepare the next-gen of entrepreneurs, and to develop lifelong learners who use critical thinking and have a perspective on real-world topics and issues, schools need to implement new ways of learning. These skill sets can serve students regardless of their career path. This real-world learning can set students up for long-term success. People like me had to find our own way into the world of entrepreneurship without being armed with the knowledge and carve our own niche and ultimately succeed.
The great shift
As a serial entrepreneur, I can thrive on the freedom I have to conceptualise an idea, then bring it to life and secure my income from this whilst working hours which suit me. We are seeing a huge shift in the younger generations starting their own businesses, going solo with a career as a content creator or at least wanting to explore more options like these in the future.
Yet this has nothing to do with their standard education from schools – they have recognised the opportunity to be an entrepreneur from their peers on social media platforms or have had the innate desire to innovate and learn along the way through trial and error.
I also believe schools should teach entrepreneurship from an early age because children from all socioeconomic levels benefit from this subject of education. Not only will it foster unique talents and skills but will also educate children to think outside the box and have the freedom to create.
Additionally, learning about entrepreneurship or instilling the idea of it can expand horizons, promote social equality, inspire self-assurance, and furthermore boost the economy.
All kids stand to gain from entrepreneurship because it cultivates these qualities, not just those from low-income backgrounds. By embedding them into the day-to-day curriculum, educators can show children first-hand how these skills are relevant or will be relevant to them as they grow and develop.
Linking them to everyday situations and making them practical will give students a clear outlook on how they can apply themselves and when. Who wouldn’t want that?
Entrepreneurship also values abilities and skills that can be traditionally perceived as disruptive behaviour that teachers in traditional schools might otherwise discourage. Typically, entrepreneurs are misfits growing up and usually appear to shun social norms – as I have witnessed throughout my life. They may not be “book brilliant,” but if given the chance to use their people skills and risk-taking abilities, they excel.
When school-age kids have this opportunity at an early stage of their development, they are much more able to foster these skills and evolve their creative problem-solving abilities thereby planting the seed for an entrepreneurial mind-set. They make mistakes and learn from them with a childlike curiosity and determination to get it right, unlike some adults who are more likely to give up on something that they cannot master the first time.
I truly believe that by providing entrepreneurial skills in schools and having hands-on experience of what is it like to run a business, we are setting up our future economy for the better. With technology at a huge turning point today, the future careers and job market are going to be a very different place indeed. Even before the pandemic, it was predicted that 85 percent of jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t been invented yet.
Preparing for the next challenge
The next generation therefore, should have all the tools required to build a stable, successful, and future-proof social landscape. As new challenges have emerged post pandemic, it is more critical than ever. Teaching this generation about the risks involved in business, how to manage finances steadily, coping mechanisms for crises, best practice communications, and managing expectations for success will all lead to well-balanced, intellectually and mentally prepared contemporaries to take us into the future.
This will of course begin with training the teaching staff and it will be more so possible with the metaverse aiding this process. Learning doesn’t need to be restricted to classrooms only and implementing virtual education, due to lack of faculty, can be a way forward for institutions. This aspect of Web3 and metaverse is definitely going to be a game changer in revamping or upgrading our education system globally and I will be writing more on this subject over the coming months!
Shadman Sakib, tech entrepreneur