Should Self-Defense Be Mandatory in Schools?

Why learning to protect yourself may be one of the most practical life skills education can offer.

Schools prepare us for exams, careers, and higher education.

But life doesn’t only test our knowledge. Sometimes, it tests our awareness, our judgment, and our ability to respond under pressure.

We spend years learning equations, grammar, and history—yet many students graduate without ever being taught how to recognize danger, set boundaries, de-escalate conflict, or protect themselves in an emergency.

If education is meant to prepare us for life, should personal safety be treated as a core subject instead of an optional one?