Some people say that in all levels of education, from primary to universities, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills.

IELTS/ PTE/TOEFL Writing Tasks, The Essay

Writing Task 2, Essay

The Essay Question:

Some people say that in all levels of education, from primary to universities, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills. Do you agree or disagree ?

The Essay:

The amount of practically training students is insufficient vis-a-vis the learning and memorising information, in primary, secondary and higher educational institutes, according to few people. I opine that this is true since learners of all ages until college are seen immersed in books and not training in real time.

Advocates of the view that theory is just as much as needed for students, argue that practical training provided is enough for them to do the relevant work. They believe that facts are the foundation and indispensable, hence much time is allotted for it. 

However, it is seen that students are loaded with a myriad books and carry a heavy school bag these days. They are majorly memorising details of all kinds, such as formulas, theorems, dates and events like the World Wars, Archimedes Principle, Newton’s Law and so on.   The time devoted in learning them by rote takes up even all their play time. 

Additionally, in tertiary educational level too, the study time is extended and students are often burdened with innumerable projects, assignments, tests and competitions. All of them pressurise pupils and they are barely ready for the industry, albeit being armed with theoretical aspects of the subjects. Sudents graduating from an engineering or medical course, are often sent for an on the job training for a year before absorbing them into mainstream work. 

To conclude, I totally concur with the argument that at all academic levels a great deal of time is given to memorising facts instead of hands-on training . This is evident from the amount of books children can be observed carrying to schools. Moreover, the probationary work period for new recruits in organisations is the time they actually get practical training that can be given in universities.