The Importance of Primary Education

It's not just crayons, comprehension and dodge ball. There's much more than education happening when a child takes a seat behind a desk at a public, charter or private elementary school. The importance of primary education can't be overlooked. The purpose of primary education education, or elementary education, as it is known in the United States, fulfills the special needs of students during the first few years of their schooling life. Primary education has specific goals that make it a critical component of an educational system as a whole.

When a child begins the education journey, they are being primed for more than learning the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. Quality education in primary schools is the first stage of compulsory education. In countries such as the United States and Canada, primary education generally covers the first six or seven years of school life. In many countries where primary education is compulsory, parents may provide this level of education at home. However this education is provided, the importance of primary education is undeniable. The United Nations has identified universal primary education by 2015 as one of its Millennium Development Goals.

Parents can elect to send children to either public or private institutions when it comes time for them to receive their primary educations. This level usually begins in kindergarten and continues until grades five to seven, depending on the particular system. After primary education, students proceed to middle school or junior high school. Some school systems offer a more comprehensive primary education, encompassing eight primary grades. Students progress directly to high school after graduation, which shows the importance of primary education .

The purpose of primary education is to assist a child on many levels. During their primary education, students are taught to think critically, to strive to attain high standards, to meet the challenges posed by technological advancements and to develop citizenship and basic values. In order to achieve these goals, schools must provide orderly and safe environments, where supervised learning can take place. Primary education importance relies heavily on the child's engagement, which can be worked on both at home and school. Quality education in primary schools is vital to the success of the student's school career.

It's not just about the grades. Quality education in primary schools leads to bigger and better things. Yet another key competency provided by primary education—one that may not be explicitly targeted by curricula—is socialization. As noted by Danielle Tasmajian in her paper, "Socialization Skills Acquired by Elementary School Children," when children start school, it is usually the first time that adults other than their relatives supervise their behavior. The school becomes the agency that first organizes social relationships, and the classroom becomes the place where children learn to socialize with their peers without the presence of their parents. The purpose of primary education is that it assists a child in many areas of life.