The Future of Education

Education since its inception aimed to make human being distinct in comparison to other living species through training in control of behaviour and cultivation of personality to prolong the survival on the planet smoothly. Our million of years of journey on this planet vindicates the efforts made by education, inclusive of all its forms in sustaining human society for long. However, while tracing down the influence of education on individuals, it is evident that it has not remained uniform. The varied geographical, historical, political, social and cultural milieus across the world have caused only a selected few to receive maximum benefit out of it at the cost of depriving the others with certain amorphous rules and regulations. It is only from 20th Century onwards after world wars and decolonization of the African and Asian countries, the need for universalization was felt on an overwhelming note and got accentuated in mid 1990s when it was decided to have ‘Education for all’ at the global level. With this background when significance of education realized and attempts to get it universalized accelerated at the global level, the intrusion of technology seems to pose different challenges at the social, economic and environmental level. The loud claims of emerging technologies in the field of education may bereft many due to their inability to bear the cost of buying technology related accessories with ease. It has happened during Covid-19 when millions of children had to withdraw because of this affordability reason. Further this loudly proclaimed automation may deprive the recipients to evolve themselves for the social cause. Individualized learning as per individual comfort may escalate psychological problems and cause recipients to break the long running social fabric of society due to deprivation of experience at the social settings in the foundational years. Keeping in view all these concerns, this paper with the help of available literature seeks to draw the attention through critically reflecting on the role of technology in breaking the aspiration of peaceful and sustainable world followed by certain recommendations for shaping the future of education in a thoughtful way.