Countries around the world take very different views on the purpose of education - so what is the purpose of school?

An annual survey of global attitudes to education has indicated that there is a divide between those who think that education should focus on creativity and independent thinking and those who believe that schools should focus their efforts on teaching the basics and on discipline.

Where do countries sit?

The results of the survey might surprise you. The following countries expressed the view that creativity and independent thinking skills should be a priority:

• Spain
• Germany
• Netherlands
• Sweden
• Canada

Whilst the following believed that teach the basics and discipline should be the focus:

• UK
• Kenya
• Nigeria

People in China held the view that there shouldn’t need to be a choice – they want it all!

There is certainly an argument to be made that schools should have more time to teach the basics like English and maths as these are very important skills in every aspect of life, both working and personal.

Equally though, we know that creativity plays a very important role in certain disciplines, such as engineering and that it is also useful to problem solving abilities.