The Dystopian Reality of Education according to Fianna Fáil

At the end of this decade, students will wear a piece of neurotechnology that will be integrated into a headset or another device, according to Malcolm Byrne of Fianna Fáil. This neurotechnology will use brainwaves to indicate their levels of attention or understanding of the subject being taught. Sounds futuristic, right? Well, it may sound like a step towards innovation, but it just sounds dystopian and silly to me. However, let’s try and take Byrne’s ideas seriously for a very brief moment.

Imagine a classroom where students are constantly monitored through their brainwaves, where their level of engagement is measured and relayed to the teacher. It may seem like a way to ensure that every student is fully engaged and learning, but is it really?

The idea of plugging children into devices to analyse their brainwaves raises concerns about privacy, autonomy, and the very essence of education. It has echoes of turning schools into factories. (It’s bad enough most are already factories for religious indoctrination!)

In a world where students’ attention would be measured by a device, what happens to creativity, critical thinking, and individuality? And let’s not forget the impact on students’ mental health — constant monitoring and the pressure to always be engaged?

Yes, it’s important to embrace technology in education, but not at the cost of genuine human connection, creativity, and the freedom to learn and explore. If this is Fianna Fáil’s vision for an education system, I think I’m plugging out!