Students in a robotics class © Maxim Lupascu/Dreamstime

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Margaret Heffernan revisits the seemingly eternal debate about the purpose of education: is it about preparing young people for the world of work or stimulating a love of learning (“Schools should teach curiosity, not careerism”, Opinion, January 26)? It’s a question that has ranged over time. As far back as 1888, Royal Commissioner Sir Philip Magnus was asking: “What, if any relation, should exist between school teaching and the work of life?” The straightforward answer is that schools can and, in many cases, do both. In fact, when young people are inspired to think about the range of opportunities open to them, it enhances their creative capacities. This is what modern careers education is all about. Aspirational role models from business showing young people what’s possible. Teaching brought to life by connecting subject content with its application in the world. Last week I visited Oxford BioMedica with a group of science teachers. As we observed the extraordinary life changing processes, the teachers were busy planning how they could use the stimulus to build exciting learning experiences for their students. It is our conviction that meaningful and mutually beneficial connections between schools and businesses are an essential part of a rich and well-rounded education in the here and now. Done right they also set young people on the path to fulfilling careers and, ultimately, play a part in boosting productivity. Oli de Botton Chief Executive The Careers and Enterprise Company London EC1, UK