EDUCATION SYSTEMS OFTEN STIFLE CREATIVITY

The first matter that should be raised to make a proper approach to this statement is to clarify what the word “creativity” involves. Creativity can be defined as the ability to “create”, but not only is it a question of creating, but it also implies to create original, unusual and imaginative ideas. The question is: do education systems really contribute to achieve these mentioned characteristics? To my way of thinking the answer is definitely no, they do not.

The patterns used in the current education systems come from the past industrial societies, which required other kinds of knowledge.Nevertheless, the changes that our society has been suffering in the recent times such as technological revolution, scientific development and so on have not been mirrored in the systems used to teach at schools and universities,which often avoid everything concerned to the called ”lateral thinking”.

It is often alleged that the students use computers and other kind of media to learn, but it is my firm belief that it is not enough and that C.I.Ts are essential because they have become part of our life but they do not always help to use the two sides of their brain.Never will the success of our society and companies depend on a machine but on our ability to use imagination and a critical thought in order to solve our problems. As a result, it is only after having learnt to think, to take risks, to be flexible and open-minded that our students will be able to overcome all the obstacles that might appear in their personal and working life.

Taking everything into consideration all that is left to say is that the education systems should promote spaces and methodologies capable to make students aware of the importance of the innovative thinking as a key competence for their future.I subscribe to the words of an American poet who said:”when patterns are broken new worlds emerge”.(P.F)