My pupils' answers to the question: "What is the purpose of education"

1. what is the purpose of education? a pupils’ eye view

2. Over the week before half-term, I asked several of my classes the question “what is the purpose of education?” The following are the unedited answers, in no particular order.

3. to get a good job

4. to learn new things

5. to have fun learning

6. to get grades for a good job

7. to achieve good grades & qualifications for university & a good job

8. to get the job I want

9. to learn about the world around you

10. so we can all live better lives

11. to make other peoples’ lives easier

12. so we can understand the mysteries of the universe

13. to prepare yourself for life

14. to achieve our goals in life

15. to enable us to succeed and fulfil our dreams

16. education > success

17. to gain qualifications, to get a good job and live a happy life

18. education > more job opportunities > better quality of life

19. to give people ideas from which they can determine their future

20. to provide a foundation for lifelong learning

21. to have fun

22. to meet new people

23. how to lead a life full of love, fun and success

24. to make us aware of the outside world for when we are adults

25. there is no purpose* * as in “education is the means and the end in itself”