The Present Educational Scene

The eighteen-year-olds of the year 2000 are with us today and next year (1987) will begin their period of formal education. Now is the time to put these questions, are we still educating for a “sabre-toothed curriculum” (see Hills, 1985 , page 2), or are we addressing the fundamental question of what the world will be like in the years following the year 2000? Educators and those responsible for education should already be concerning themselves with this question and should be beginning to build into the system an awareness of the possibilities. This change is coming upon us at a time when there is a drop in the number of pupils entering school, drastic cuts in educational expenditure, teachers’ unrest and, seemingly, a general turning-in of schools upon themselves. This is a time when we should be looking outwards to meet the challenges and to provide education which is both relevant and timely for our changing society.