Goodbye education hello certification?

Every advanced nation on Earth has determined that all its citizens must undergo a common curriculum before entering the workforce.

Our education conventions read like a Dickensian novel set in a totalitarian state: All humans, upon reaching age 5, must attend mandatory training by law. Adults who don’t train their young according to government regulations risk imprisonment. Children must travel daily to local education centers, sitting in same-age groups before certified trainers who deliver curricula approved by the Ministry of Education.

After 13 years of schooling, students may apply for 5 more years of training to receive higher government certification. National intelligence tests will categorize them: top performers enter prestigious institutions, while lower scorers are directed to trade skills to serve those at the top.

In the era of AI, enrolling in a multi-year curriculum will no longer be an asset but a liability—guaranteeing students are prepared for a world that no longer exists, with skills that are no longer relevant.

The industrial revolution model of training in youth and then working for life will give way to lifelong learning and certification. Much like elevator safety stickers, we will soon display official, time-stamped digital badges certifying that we are "up to date" with our education.