When observing top organisations and institutions, one realises that today’s globalised workforce and elite are undoubtedly highly skilled. This is a result of the relatively longer time we’ve spent training than any previous generation, with our education often extending into our adulthood, along with better resources and engulfed by a hyper-competitive environment. However, skill is (just) a modus operandi. Skill means you work well within a defined system, but it says little about the willingness to influence the system. It is one side of a coin. The other side is education.
If not skill, what does it mean to be educated? Skill is what most employers are looking for. It answers how we do things, whereas 'education' entails a deep understanding of why we do things the way we do them. Skill is memorisation and training. An education is a whole range of knowledge rooted in critical thinking, prompting questions such as: why do we structure society in a certain way? Why do we have certain laws? Why, why, why...
The education system has not really changed in centuries, but we have advanced. We have incredible resources today that enable the holistic development of our children.
Technology and educational excellence can converge. Instead of high school teachers regurgitating the same content for decades, we can delegate those routine tasks to a digital education system with personal AI tutors. This would free up much-needed time for teachers to mentor, guide, and inspire students on a more personal level. Meanwhile, the emergence of digital ‘superstar’ teachers - world-class explainers who worked out compelling ways to dissect topics - means that every student can access the very best instruction at virtually no cost, no matter where they live. This not only raises the quality of teaching but also reduces costs, making excellence scalable and accessible.
We already see the early stages of some AI schools achieving far superior results than traditional ones. This frees up time to focus on a broader education and to return to teaching timeless classical subjects, including world literature, philosophy, science, music, and sports. Subjects that build the strength, character, and values.
High school classrooms should focus on building a broad base of knowledge, which is fostered through individual learning and reinforced and retained through interaction, debate, and repetition. Students must be encouraged to challenge ideas, defend their views, and engage in thoughtful dialogue, developing knowledge and habits that last a lifetime, not just until the next exam.
Not only do the ways we teach have to improve, but what is taught. Aclassical education could be complemented by practical skills that prepare children for adulthood: how to file tax returns, how to incorporate a business, basic legal concepts, and how to build a habit of engaging in the democratic process. Graduating students have to understand their civic duties and exercise those rights, or risk losing them.
The long-term mission is to change education for the better. In one of my ventures, my business partners and I have created an app that helps parents teach their children basic concepts - to let children earn their due instead of receiving rewards (free dopamine) without achieving anything.
The tools we built make learning engaging and habit-forming, encouraging daily routines, rewarding genuine effort, and providing constructive feedback. Completing tasks and chores teaches children so many life lessons. Going through this process instils them with confidence and encourages them to remember their duty to speak up and shape society alongside good, time-tested values.