What Is the Role of Education in Modern Society?

The purpose of education in today’s society is to prepare students for the challenges of life in the career world. Because of the many different paths to success that exist today, different students need different outcomes from their experiences in the educational system. Rather than inculcating a set list of competencies or ideas, education must prepare students to think critically and select the opportunities that they need in order to succeed in their chosen paths.

Because there are so many different careers available, the role of education is not the same for any two paths. Students who believe that a career as a mechanic is ideal for them need basics in the core areas but then need to start specializing in technical areas when they reach the later years of high school. Those who are heading for law school must plan on achieving the highest grades possible in high school followed by an undergraduate degree in the humanities, a college job in a law firm, and then a degree from law school. Those wanting to be entrepreneurs in the computer field have a more eclectic path, picking and choosing from programming and other technical course selections to find training and expertise — not to mention connections — in their areas of interest.