What Do You Think?

Should education today focus on producing creative individuals? To answer this, let's take a look at the meaning behind education. A sound educaiton should be hollistic, that is, one that emphasises on all aspects to bulid an all-rounded individual. What is creative then? Being creative is about thinking out of the box. Just like our left hemisphere and right hemisphere of the brain which work hand in hand, creative thinking and scientific thinking actaully complement each other.

In today's modern world where every aspect of our lives is infiltrated with science and technology, much emphasis is placed on the science field. People in this field are those who think critically and rationally. We have the team of health professionals, comprising specialists, doctors, and pharmacist who dedicate themselves in saving lives. We also have researchers who work roudn the clock to come up with new drugs to treat new diseases. Not to mention, we have engineers who are experts in their respective areas-be it mechanical, chemical, electrics and electronis or civil, who constantly improve the quality of our lives through construction of bridges and builidings, production of energy-saving cars, manufacture of foodstuff and many others.

However, does that imply that we don't require creative-thinking individuals in the science field? Our education system which is heavily based on rote learning and rugurgitating the facts in examinations often lead us to the above misconception. In fact, science requires creative-thinking as well. Imagine if Newton didn't give it much of a thought when the apple fell onto him. History would have been so different then-we wouldn't discover gravity or the 3 Newton's Laws. Likewise, in today's world, researchers in the science field need creative thinking as well. With each failed hypothesis or failed attempt, they have to think out of the box to move one step ahead.

Without creative individuals, we wll not have musicains, artists, actors, architects, directors and poets, to name a few. The world will be such a boring place to live in! The importance of arts field is manifold. The omnipresence of music soothes a tired mind and heals one's soul. Artists captured the wonders of the Earth, be ut a scenery, a building or a person, and made their beauty last eternally on drawings. Authors and poets impart good values and convey messagse through the work of literature. Some classics are timeless, like the work of Shakespeare-"Sonnet 18", "macbeth" and "Romeo and Juliet" and the work of Jane Austen-"Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility".

With architects, we have buildings which speak for the nation's own identity. With creative individuals in the advertising sector, we have remarkable and meaningful advertisements which convey messages about unity and racial harmony. Such is the power of creativity! We cannot deny the fact that creative individuals are instrumental in promoting Malaysia at the international front. For instance, the much-acclaimed local film, "Sepet", directed by Yasmin Ahmad, received various international awards and thus, succeeded in carving a na,e for Malaysia in the film industry.

Suffice to say, education today should focus on producing creative individuals. Creative individuals are catalyst to the development and growth of a nation.

So, what do you all think? The title of the essay for my MUET is, 'Education today should focus on producing creative individuals. Give your views' I am glad that I could write out something this, along with a summary in one and a half hour time. It goes to show that blogging does have its advantage-in that I am still inspired to write. I just need time to regain my confidence, be it in essay-writing, or academic work. MUET is not exactly over, there is still speaking to go, however, I shall take one step at a time. Now I am looking forward to my MI3 movie, then STUDY!!!!!!!!