ABSTRACT
While some aspects of education have the appearance of being constant, much of what constitutes education in the form of schooling is subject to change. Over time, schooling has faced a wide range of political and social demands and what children and students actually experience as their education has often been dramatically steered and shaped in the face of these demands. In recent years, the demand for a country’s economic stability and progress has dominated the changes faced by many education systems across the globe. Desirable characteristics for a future workforce have filtered into and adapted the educational experience of both students and educators alike. This, in part, explains current shifts in the perceived value of certain subjects, prioritising the sciences above the arts, for example, or increasing the presence of technology within the curriculum. Accountable measures to ensure that these kinds of demands are met and to confirm that changes are bedded into practice include legislation, inspection and increased assessment in schools.
