THERE ARE times when we need to unlearn and relearn in order to get things done better. It is amazing how our attitudes are shaped and influenced in the course of life particularly through the education institutions we go through. 

Throughout the complete cycle of education, our mindset and thinking are conditioned by well-intentioned but unfortunately misguided people.

Our education system naturally conditions and teaches us that progression in life is something that goes like this; school- super grades- good job- good employment/ high pay- family- accumulate wealth and live happily thereafter. 

This was my focus and purpose as I was growing up and going through the struggles of education- without any doubt it was the same purpose and drive to my generation and it continues to be the same purpose to the current generation.

Perhaps it will be same focus for the future generations unless the current one does something to change this unfortunate phenomenon- to reset and reshape our thinking. 

There are some pertinent rhetorical questions to ponder about as we progress through this article. What happens when the high paying job does not come after the academic certificates? 

What happens in an event when there are no any academic certificates at all?  Expecting such kind of progression as indicated above leads to inertia especially when things do not neatly fall into place according to accepted norms. 

In addition, this sort of mindset leads to the pursuit of the same solutions to everyone’s unique problems and to the society for that matter! Solutions like pursuing academic certificates, one after the other, in the hope of qualifying for some top job some day!

Unfortunately, this limited view and shallow mindset shatters and shuts our creativity, denies us alternative choices and paths in life to getting ahead besides a top degree to qualify for a top job. 

Ironically, it is such tireless effort in pursuit of that dream job with a big pay cheque that denies us the fulfillment we ought to derive from achieving God-ordained purpose through our work!  

As such, it’s time for us to unlearn and relearn new things if we are to get different results! We must discard the public illusions and misguided opinions if we are to accommodate the new thinking which will give us the breakthrough that can help us overcome the barriers scripted into our minds by society over time, which sometimes hinders us from achieving our best and purpose in life.  

Education’s purpose should be to help us define our individual purposes. True education, should help us fulfill our purpose through work, not gear our mind towards job employment.

Education should shape our attitude and mindset towards work in positive ways. Although to most of us there seems to be no big difference between work and a job, there is a big difference between these two concepts. 

Whereas a job is a particular set of responsibilities assigned for specific pay, work could be defined as a purposeful response to the needs around us. In this respect work is a proactive pursuit of purposes related to our dreams and aspirations.

A healthy attitude and the right mindset towards work would enable us recognise that the success and achievements we often seek are not always far away from us, but right where we are! 

In our small business, in the classroom, in the factory, in our offices, in our homes, in the farm-right close to us everywhere and wherever we are!

In a final analysis, our education systems should prepare us for our individual life purposes and support the individual abilities and plans we pursue, not just to prepare us in getting employment short of which we are branded failures in life.

The writer is an educationist, author and publisher.