Argumentative Essay:

The current education resembles a fast-food chain outlet. Agree or disagree. Discuss.

   I agree that the education system resembles that of a fast-food chain outlet. This is mainly because they are both standardised. For example, the education system requires every student to study the same languages, Math and Science, resembling a fast-food chain, where they insert a patty, pickles, and onions in a sesame seed bun. 

  The current education system kills passion and talent by focusing too much on excelling in the major subjects, ignoring the minor subjects which are equally important like life skills, so much so that "at the top are Mathematics and languages, and humanity is at the bottom of the arts" as said by Sir Ken Robinson in  his talk in TED. Supporting the above quote, a straight A student does not reflect their mastery of talent and the best of behaviour which, in turn, does not guarantee them of success in society. There are two famous figures that proves it all.

  The first figure is John Hardy. He was dyslexic and dropped out of school at a young age. However, he had excellent business skills and was able to build up a jewellery business, which he sold and invested the funds into building the Green School in Bali. His school has many unique features that are absent in the standardized education system. Children derives benefits from the holistic education, which focuses on both academic skills and cultivating talents, preventing them from becoming university professors, which Sir Ken Robinson describes them as the ones "who live in one side of the brain" and "merely use their bodies as a means of transport to their meetings." Besides that, students have a minimal amount of pressure studying there, as it is not an exam-oriented learning environment. They get to enjoy learning about nature by literally living with nature, as the school is surrounded by a forest.

  The second figure is Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft. Similarly, he dropped out from Harvard University, but with his extraordinary computer skills, he managed to create and sell many software to companies, and today he is one of the richest and most successful people in the world despite being a school drop out. These two figures are living proof that a standardised education system is not a determinant of one's success in life.

  In conclusion, the education system must be revamped, focusing on cultivating talent, allowing each and every individual excel in his own unique way.

 Written by,

 Neoh Zhi Wen

 Sri Kuala Lumpur International School