Without cooperation there would be chaos and when there is chaos there is no uderstanding. Cooperation I think is another word for being open-minded. Being open-minded means that one is willing to learn other's way of thinking along with other's perception and not be judgmental until all is heard. Cooperation is the step of being open-minded until one can form a strong opinion about all the information provided. Individualism brings the teacher or learner to new heights and allows the person or persons to search within themselves for answers and opinions that normally would have been dictated to them.
Individualism also allows the person to be content with who they are and how one is unique.
This allows the teacher and learner to go and take teaching and learning to the next level. Individualism an also turn a 180 degrees. It can be the exact opposite of what i just told you. In some situations being and individual can leave a person lost and confused. Competition, I believe, brings education as a whole to another level.