Schools of the future must foster creativity

Sir Ken Robinson, renowned educationalist and creativity expert, addresses The Government Summit in Dubai

Education systems that identify, cultivate and foster creativity are the key to living in these revolutionary times, delegates were told on the inaugural day of this year’s Government Summit in Dubai.

Technology, Sir Ken Robinson, renowned educationalist and creativity expert highlighted, gives many examples of the ability, depth and reach of the human mind. “The consequences of technology are unpredictable. With the world expected to be home to 9 billion people by the end of this decade—the highest population in the history of mankind—Robinson stressed that we are today living in revolutionary times, echoing the themes of Professor Klaus Schwab’s main address at the Government Summit. “If we are to meet this challenge, we need to think differently. And we need to do things differently,” he said.

Robinson called on a reformation on modern education to focus fostering the particular abilities of students, rather than emphasise a set of standards as every child is unique. “Creativity is the most essential circumstance that human beings have, and there is a misconception that it has to be innate when in fact, some of it can be taught and some of it needs to be cultivated.

As the world hosts more people, with less resources than in the history of mankind, Robinson concluded by emphasising the need for education. “H.G. Wells said that ‘Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe.’ I believe this and I believe that this is a race that we can win.”