Over the years, education models have adapted to the changing circumstances and needs of each era. The educational reality today is nothing like what it was centuries ago.
If we trace back to the prehistoric times, the educational model, mainly depended on the mother figure of the family. Women were in charge of almost all education while the father centred on aspects related to livelihoods, such as hunting and survival. It was a primary and individualised system through which children acquired the essential knowledge from their parents, unlike today, where students study concepts such as stress and strain.
An educational revolution was first witnessed in Mesopotamia in 2000 BC when the first schools appeared. They mainly taught the art of writing, distinguishing itself by the fact that it went a step beyond meeting everyday needs. However, the people benefitting from this new model of education were limited to the privileged class.
The onset of School-Based Education
The concept of school as we understand today – an institution complementing family-based education – played an important role in Ancient Greece. They aimed at providing students with more comprehensive learning. Different subjects like Music, Arithmetic and Physical Education were taught to students by great teachers. However, schools in Rome were private and restricted to the social elite.
Turning Point
A key turning point came around in 1787 when Frederick William II of Prussia enacted a scholastic code that wrested responsibility for education from the clergy and assigned it to a Ministry of Education. This code stressed that all children attend primary school, excluding students who exhibited poor conduct.
Since then, primary education continued to be obligatory for all children, but even today, this aspiration is far from reality. According to the UNESCO figures, there are about 57 million unschooled children in the world today, half of them living in countries tormented by conflicts.
Modern Education
Thanks to the change brought about by technology and the possibilities that its integration into the classroom offers. It is because of technology we have access to more customised education, making it possible to meet the specific needs of each student, adapting the pace of learning to his or her capacities.
BYJU’S learning app, launched in August 2015, has been a gamechanger in the field of education. The app offers original content, watch-and-learn videos, animations and interactive simulations that help students grasp concepts such as resonant frequency and Binomial Theorem in an easy and fun way.
The use of technology in education will be widespread and will contribute to universal access to education. Hence, as the use of technology expands, it will play an even more significant role in education around the world.