What is the purpose of school education?

The purpose of school education has been a matter of great debate, especially in India. Different people have different perspectives on the issue, and here we would like to know what parents expect from the education of their children – whether to acquire a qualification, to land a job, to become a responsible citizen or to learn skills. Should the purpose of school education be simply to pass exams? Are our children encouraged to think and understand, or are they just asked to passively memorize masses of data? Do send your responses and write in with your opinions.