A lot of young people are living in incredibly challenging situations. Some are in gangs, and those gangs become their family. They give them support and the promise of an exciting life. They see that as glamorous.
As for what we do about it: these same young people are going to be spending most of their time in school, if they’re going – and that’s where the opportunity lies. But it’s difficult, because in my opinion, the current education system is broken. We’re doing 20th-century exams in 21st-century schools.
We’re not keeping kids interested or helping them feel inspired. We focus so much on academia, when there are plenty of options: you can become a very successful plumber or electrician. But instead, we’re focusing more and more on exams and testing.
A lot of kids aren’t interested in academic lessons or A-levels – so why are we still doing these outdated tests? Why are we still doing GCSEs? We should be including gaming and coding in the curriculum. We should be focusing on sports.
This story is from the September 30, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 30, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The face of baseball making history after betting scandal
Shohei Ohtani’s season began with him mired in a betting scandal for which he bore no fault, has included him achieving something no one else in the 150-year history of professional baseball has, and will likely end with him earning a third MVP (most valuable player) award of his career.
Who has taken pole as US politics enters the F1 world?
Election hopefuls are using the sport to promote campaigns
We can't stand Musk but he astounded us all this week
I have a confession to make: for a brief moment this week, I became a fully paid-up Elon Musk fanboy.
Saka chasing down the most elusive and weirdest record
With seven assists in as many matches to start the Premier League, is the single-season target of 20 within his reach?
MG dismiss dip in demand for EVs as its sales surge
Carmaker MG has insisted that a drop in electric car interest is “short term” as sales of its vehicles surged last year in the UK.
True story of the killer who appeared on a dating show
Netflix film Woman of the Hour’ is based on the life of serial killer Rodney Alcala, a man who was invited on a gameshow for primetime television and won. Words: Annabel Nugent
Greatest sequel of all time?
Once described as having an overstuffed plot’, Back to the Future 2’ is now up there with the second Terminator’ and Godfather’. Geoffrey Macnab goes back to see what changed
Payne drew the short straw in One Direction; now we'll never know the real him
In and out of the boy band, Liam Payne struggled to find a defining identity, writes Mark Beaumont. His life now cut tragically short, the singer is likely to remain elusive forever
Zelensky tells EU and Nato to back his 'victory plan'
Ukraine president pushes for invitation to military alliance
US stealth bombers strike Houthi bunkers in Yemen
US B-2 stealth bombers have been used against the Iran-backed Houthis for the first time in an escalation of Washington’s response to attacks on shipping in the Red Sea that serves as a message to Tehran.