WASHZ Abbey Talk: The Trend and Choice of Education

ABBEYTALK

Abbey Talk is a platform launched by WASHZ to promote communication between the school and families.

In the first talk, we invited Mr. Ma, a parent of an outstanding pupil at WASHZ, to share his views on future education trends. Mr. Tig Mooney, the Executive Headmaster, along with several parent representatives, attended the event and engaged in sincere and in-depth discussions exploring new opportunities in education.

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When discussing the current state of education, most people would think of the word "involution." Fiercely competing for grades, college admissions, and degrees, pupils and parents relentlessly push themselves forward without daring to pause, often unaware that education itself is quietly undergoing changes.

During his talk, Mr. Ma introduced the concept of "degree inflation." Decades ago, university graduates were considered the chosen ones, and a high school diploma was sufficient to secure a stable job. Today, the number of admitted undergraduates has exceeded ten million, and the joke "graduation means unemployment" is becoming reality.

Mr. Tig Mooney, the Executive Headmaster of WASHZ, has observed a growing trend where some parents and pupils are increasingly focused on the "return on investment" of education. They are more sensitive to the degree inflation phenomenon.

"If a bachelor's degree is no longer sufficient, then why not have the pupil pursue a master's or doctoral degree?" People might ask.

In 2023, over 1.3 million students were admitted to post-graduate programmes nationwide. Although this number seems less significant compared to the tens of millions of undergraduate students, it is important to note that 25 years ago, the number of undergraduate admissions was only 1.6 million. Who can guarantee that the number of graduate admissions won't "inflate" like that of undergraduates in the years to come?

Mr. Ma also discussed how degree inflation leads to the "effort dilemma." On the one hand, competition in primary education becomes increasingly fierce, requiring pupils to put in much more effort to enter elite universities. On the other hand, the returns on higher education are diminishing due to degree inflation, with graduates from prestigious universities in less popular majors facing employment difficulties.

In overseas job markets, data shows that since February of last year, the job vacancies in the UK have decreased by approximately 30%. University graduates are facing the hardest job market in recent years.

With the inflation of higher education and the exponential increase in highly educated labour force, many parents are recognising that there are numerous pathways to determine one's life trajectory and ultimate achievements. The means of self-realisation are diversifying.

Therefore, Mr. Ma believes that the focus of pre-college education should be on building a solid foundation. In a rapidly evolving society, it is impossible to accurately foresee the opportunities and challenges of the future. However, comprehensive qualities such as critical thinking, communication skills, and resilience remain core competencies.?

Consequently, when transferring his child to international education, Mr. Ma prioritises the school environment, peer relationships, and mental and physical well-being as the top three factors in school selection.

Mr. Ma's observations align perfectly with the philosophy of WASHZ, which believes that? every child can excel.

WASHZ firmly believes that every child has unique talents. Educators' job is to discover these strengths and help pupils achieve excellence in their dedication.

The school offers a rich and diverse curriculum that encourages pupils to excel both academically and in their areas of interest. Additionally, the distinctive British boarding system creates a secure living environment, fostering pupils' self-discipline, independence, and social skills.

Furthermore, WASHZ is dedicated to helping pupils integrate into the global community in the future. Through an open and inclusive school culture and international exchange programmes, the school cultivates new talents with a global perspective and cross-cultural communication skills.

In Mr. Ma's view, there is no inherent hierarchy among various educational models; what matters is their suitability.

Faced with various challenges, a school's primary task is to cultivate pupils' comprehensive qualities and their ability to adapt to change. WASHZ is striving to guide pupils to create their own paths to success through the philosophy and practice of holistic education.

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Situated beside the picturesque Fairy Lake in Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, WASHZ spans a generous area exceeding 38 acres. Since its official inauguration in September 2021, the school has been dedicated to providing premium international education for pupils from the ages of 3 to 18. Upholding a comprehensive educational ethos, WASHZ is committed to academic excellence while also engaging in a multifaceted educational journey that discovers and nurtures the individual gifts and potential of each pupil, thereby facilitating their smooth progression into their preferred and renowned universities around the world.

[Article Review]

The First Review

Cassia Zhang

The Second Review??

Pamela Yu, Phoebe Wang

Final? Review

Tig Mooney, Bruce Jia