Education for the 21st century is characterized by four things: quality, equity, relevance and sustainability. These characteristics imply that education must be excellent, effective, democratic, inclusive, functional, meaningful, futuristic and universal.
EXCELLENT. Education must not be mediocre. It must be outstanding, world-class.
EFFECTIVE. Education is expected to produce learning outcomes through contents and experiences.
DEMOCRATIC. It should possess democratic principles such as due process and freedom. It must be of the learners and not of the teachers. It must not dictate but suggest.
INCLUSIVE. Education must not exclude anyone only because of culture, ethnicity or religious or political beliefs. It must be for all.
FUNCTIONAL. It must have an effect on the society and on the children. Education must be applicable and not only theoretical.
MEANINGFUL. Education must have purposeful. The learners must be able to derive valid or worthwhile knowledge, skills and experiences from it.
FUTURISTIC. It must look into what will happen. It must, just like what John Dewey said, aim to improve the society and prepare it for what will come. It must not be stagnant and rigid.
UNIVERSAL. Education must not be local or provincial. It must be integrated with what the whole world can offer and it must bring out what the learner can do not only for his immediate environment but for the world.
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