Everyone says the education system sucks. But no one says what we should do instead. Maybe they’re waiting for “the smart guy” to figure it out.
But the smart guy knows it’s too risky to replace the whole thing.
So maybe we need a smart and arrogant guy.
And well, i’m not the smart guy. But i am the arrogant guy who skipped university. So here’s my take.
What’s Broken
The current system is:
- A standardized one-size-fits-all.
- Time-based where you’re pushed forward whether you’ve learned or not.
- Teacher-centered, someone talks & you listen.
And maybe the biggest issue: it assumes your learning style never changes.
But mine does. Maybe yours too.
Sometimes I’m a self-learner with 10 tabs open, reading deep into something random.
Sometimes I’m a collaborator, riffing ideas with friends.
Sometimes I’m a generalist. Other times, a specialist.
Sometimes a theorist. Sometimes an experimentalist.
Introducing a Modular, Fluid, Cognitive-Oriented Education System
Instead of the same 12-years → college → job pipeline, what if everyone followed their own evolving path?
Imagine:
- At age 6, you learn basics from your parents.
- At age 9, you’re a generalist & self-learner, exploring books and YouTube.
- At age 14, you’re a specialist & collaborator, building projects with teams.
There’s no fixed timeline. No standardized journey. Just your own path, shaped by curiosity and growth.
The new system has no:
- Schools
- Universities
- Subjects
- Semesters
- Classes
Instead, it’s built on:
- Modules
- Mentors
- Labs
- Education journeys (not resumes)
- Seasons
Modules: The Core Learning Unit
Modules are intentional arcs around a topic, skill, or theme. Like a course, but more alive. More curious. More flexible.
Modules end with something real: a project, an insight, a shift.
They can be:
- Offered by companies (@apple, @microsoft)
- Run by institutions (@mit, @harvard)
- Led by individuals (@karpathy, @billgates)
- Or self-designed (just you, a book, and a goal)
Anyone can join. Anyone can drop out. No gatekeepers. No prerequisites. No grades.
Mentors: The Compasses for Navigation
Mentors aren’t teachers. They’re conversation partners. People who’ve walked part of the road you’re on.
They don’t lecture. They guide. Sometimes they just ask one sharp question and vanish for months.
Imagine being mentored by @sama, @elonmusk, @apple. They wouldn’t give you homework. They’d give you perspective & guidance.
Labs: The Playgrounds for Application
Labs are where theory meets chaos. They’re messy, collaborative environments where you test ideas and build things.
Less talk, more do.
Labs might be:
- A weekend hackathon
- A community project
- A side quest with strangers around the world
They should feel like real teams. Not everyone codes, some document, some design and some disrupt.
Failures are expected. Even welcomed.
Education Journey: Formerly Known as a CV
Every system needs memory. But the current system keeps dead records.
Your education journey should be alive. Dynamic. Honest.
Instead of:
- Schools you attended
- Jobs you held
It shows:
- Modules you explored
- Labs you joined
- Mentors who guided you (and what they said)
- What you built
- What failed
- What you’re still trying to figure out
You could zoom in on any moment and see:
- The collaborators
- The evolution
- The impact
This isn’t a document. It’s a dashboard.
And it doesn’t say “here’s what I did.”
It says:
“Here’s how I learn. Here’s how I grow. Here’s what I’m wrestling with.”
Seasons: Formerly Known as Semesters
No fixed calendar. No term schedule. No one-size-fits-all timelines.
Every learner defines their own season, which is a stretch of focused learning.
Could be 3 weeks. Could be 3 months. Your call.
Each season might include:
- A deep module or project
- A mentor check-in each week
- A lightweight lab or side project
Or maybe a quiet season to reflect, explore, or rest.
So What’s the Shift?
| From | To |
|---|---|
| Standardized | Personalized |
| Time-based | Mastery-based |
| Teacher-centered | Learner-centered |
| One-size-fits-all | Choose-your-own-adventure |
| Same path for all | Infinite evolving paths |
A world where every education journey is unique. And unforgettable.
But I’m Just the Arrogant Guy
I’m not the smart guy. I’m just arrogant enough to question all this.
So here are a few things I don’t have answers for:
- What role does failure play? Should it be celebrated, iterated on, or punished? And what does each choice entail?
- How do you make sure people don’t screw up their education without imposing conformity?
- Who builds this? And how do we stop it from becoming just another gatekept elite model?
I’ll end with this:
Education shouldn’t feel like a ladder. It should feel like a world worth getting lost in.
P.S. This was originally a tweet, I formatted it with the help of AI to turn it into a blog post.