The claim asserts that nations should require all high school students to study the same national curriculum until they have graduated high school. There are many people who believe that this idea would be beneficial for those countries that require it. However, there are equally many who question the reasoning behind such a law, emphasizing that nations should select what subjects they want their students to study, not what others want. To see why such a requirement would not be beneficial, it is necessary to understand both what an education is and what a curriculum is

The best definition of education that I have heard is ‘the process of facilitating learning.’ Education does not simply refer to receiving a degree or diploma. Education also includes learning basic life skills, such as how to perform basic tasks or how to manage money. Even high schoolers should receive an education, even if they are not attending college. For example, if students are required to study English, math, and science, then they should be able to write essays, solve equations, and construct models. Similarly, they should be taught how to drive, how to maintain interpersonal relationships, and how to behave in a responsible manner. This education should include knowledge of history, civics, geography, and the arts. Such a curriculum would provide students with a well-rounded education, giving them the skills they will need to be functioning members of society. A nation that wishes to educate all of its citizens need not force them to study the same subjects. Instead, it should select subjects that are going to provide them with the skills that they need to survive as citizens

The same argument can be made for a curriculum, which is defined as ‘the subject matter that a student is expected to learn during a specified period.’ A curriculum is meant to teach students specific skills that they need to become functioning members of society. For example, students might be required to take two years of English, one year of science, and two years of math. These subjects would be selected to provide students with the skills required to function in society. If all of the students are required to take these courses until they have graduated high school, then they will have learned these skills by the time they reach that point. However, if students are allowed to select which classes to take, they will be better able to select those courses that provide them with the skills they need. For example, a student who is more interested in the arts could pursue courses in that field, while a student who is more interested in science could take science courses. However, if all of the students are required to take the same courses, they will all be taking the same classes. This could lead to students taking classes that are not of interest, which can result in wasted time and wasted resources that could be better spent elsewhere

The claim that nations should require all high school students to study the same national curriculum until they have graduated high school is sound on the surface, but on closer examination, it becomes clear that such a requirement would not be beneficial for any of the countries that adopt it. Instead, nations should select which subjects they wish their students to study, not what others want.