Academic knowledge vs practical skills

Students should be taught academic knowledge so that they can pass exams, and skills such as cooking or dressing should not be taught. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many people hold an opinion that compulsory subjects must be fully taught so as to help students complete the tests at school; as a result, there is no need to take additional courses that focus on survival skills such as cooking or dressing into consideration. In my opinion, I believe that just clinging tightly to the pointless rote-learning of a few chosen subjects will do more harm than good for students.

On the one hand, acquiring knowledge from academic subjects does bring some advantages for students. That is to say, with the knowledge received in high schools, students will be well-prepared to apply for the university they wish to. In fact, a good fistful of A-levels may set students up for a good university, compared to those who neglect to study the core academic subjects such as Maths, English or history at school. However, I believe that academic subjects alone won't set every child up for life.

On the other hand, survival skills are always necessary for students for numerous reasons. That is to say, most successful employers from big and small companies today are crying out for recruits who are innovative and creative, who can think laterally, communicate clearly and work part as a team. These are all abilities that are most effectively developed for children through communication or problem-solving skills courses. Besides, these skills give students a chance to pursue their interests and help them express themselves better. Attending cooking or dressing classes will instill students’ passion for learning and for life as they feel safer to fail and mistakes are welcomed in these classrooms, comparing to sit in a class to learn subjects with only definite answers or clear rules.

In conclusion, although a system of the exam-focused academy may enhance the possibility of students getting a good degree or a good job in the future, practical skills subjects should be added to the official curriculum due to its enormous benefits.