6 Goal 3 - to enjoy good health and a high standard of living

A third goal for education is linked to well-being. Education should be able to make a major - if not the major - contribution to health and wellbeing and to a decent standard of living. Educational achievement correlates directly with employment, income levels, standards of health, and quality of life. Where there is educational underachievement, health risks are higher, length of life is reduced, and poor health is a more likely consequence. Although there would probably be disagreement that a prime goal of education is to become wealthy, there would be a fairly high level of agreement that being poor is no great virtue; it leads to poor health, fewer opportunities for the next generation, and more than a fair share of pain and suffering. A successful education therefore is one that lays down the groundwork for a healthy lifestyle and a career with an income adequate enough to provide a high standard of living.