In colonial times, for example, education systems were designed to maintain the coloniser s control over the colony. In Imperialist states, education was employed to maintain the status of a small ruling elite. In some cases the restrictions were quite explicit. In South Africa, prior to 1990, the Department of Education and Training had the specifically stated goal of limiting the thinking skills of all black Africans. But today few countries can afford a DET regime.
All societies face the relentless demands of a rapidly changing knowledge economy.
To be competitive in the world they must strive to develop fully the thinking skills of every single citizen. Unfortunately, experience with education systems of the past continues to colonise our minds. It is very difficult to shake off beliefs and assumptions we grew up with. We fail to see the ways in which outmoded systems paralyse our students mental potential. Our goals have changed but our tools have not.