“we need students to spend at least half their time in education on general problems and ideas. This time should be integrated into every class, relating back to the class material.”

This comment reconfirms 2 further problems (that are interrelated);
1. You start with “we need” - just about every discourse in education is about some people deciding what other people should be educated on; while I personally prefer the type of education you are advocating for, I do not consider that either of have the right to determine someone else’s education. However, neither to do the invisible hands of political, economic and commercial interests and that should be called out

2. The assumption that education = formal education, and to educate someone on something means it must be included in a curriculum, into class time, etc.
the structure of formal education (including the authority of teachers over students and the existence of a curriculum) is itself a tool for oppression, to mould the recipients of education on the needs of policy makers. A pedagogy for freedom ideally should not use oppressive methods.