My response to the question "Does the education serve the purpose only when it fulfills the individual needs and caters to the interests of each students " is that not always. The system of education nowadays can be divided into three stages: elementary education, secondary, and senior which are achieved by grade schools, high schools, plus colleges and universities. Only senior education, I think, can be specialized ,by contrast, the elementary and secondary education should be carried out with all basic courses involved. .
Most of the Pupils or even high-school students may not be aware that what are they really interested in. Once I forwarded this question to my ten-year-old sister, and play Dune ( a kind of computer game ) is her answer. Can we especially open a course to satisfy her such interest? Of course no. And also, students' interests change as the years gaining. A biologist might have a dream of being a tailor to make clothes for bobbies when she was young, then long for a teacher's position in her teenage. Too early determining of the nature will do such a harm that to narrow the children's ken and restrict their development. Basic knowledge in all subjects are vital for any student to grow into a complete individual. Just as Francis Bacon said, histories make man wise; poems witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep ; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to content. .
In addition, it should be taken into account that means of imparting education must be feasible. If we let every student to choose his own curriculum, the extant educational system will not satisfy the various interests of each student, anther large number of teachers , realias, places or something else are required. Then it will lead to a burden on the economy or even the society. .
(However, to give elective courses may settle the problem, if it is really worth. Among high school students, on condition that, a part of them have found their own strongpoint, and the elective class is the place to expand their interest and lay a foundation for their further study.
