THE POWER OF EDUCATION
“Books and pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution.” – Malala Yousafzai.
I still remember myself as a ten year old, sitting in class with my classmates and listening to my teacher. She was reading us a really good story book and then she stopped just before the interesting part. The whole class begged her to keep going. We all wanted to hear more, know more and understand more. Without even knowing it, we craved that information. We wanted the complete story. This is the power of education. It is the basic human quality – wanting to know things.
The process of receiving or giving instruction, especially at a school or college can be called education. It is a process of continuous learning which can be acquired anywhere, anytime and at any age. It is the fundamental right of every citizen as it promotes empowerment and ensures all round development. It improves the social and economical conditions of neglected sections of a community. The goal of true education is to provide knowledge that allows learners to develop opinions and strengthen their character. Education’s purpose is not only to give children the necessary knowledge to pass exams, but to help develop critical thinking skills that help them make career moves and become a lifelong student. Gaining knowledge is not only limited to classrooms, but it extends far beyond our school days. We all come across the opportunities to gather knowledge in our workplaces, social circles and even while pursuing our personal interests and this knowledge gives our life a purpose.
The fact that knowledge opens world of opportunities for us cannot be denied which is why the power of education is so important. What happens when we know something that someone else doesn’t? We have a little more power. Education doesn’t just provide knowledge, but creates thinkers, inventors and problem solvers. It has given the world a huge number of brightest inventors and powerful leaders.
Education gives us a sense of moral goodness. It makes us more confident to go out there and achieve things. We become better citizens by learning to conduct ourselves by following rules and regulations. Blind faith on old traditions and superstitions can bog down the society. People misled by false beliefs do more harm than good to society. Education spreads awareness about these false beliefs. It helps us question, gives us an analytical mind and helps us reject superstitions. Being educated, we ask for logic and scientific reasoning behind an action.
Education helps turn our weakness into strength. It gives us the confidence to stand for ourselves. It helps us stand up against wrong and for the right. It is because being educated, we can differentiate between right and wrong. It has helped women stand up against gender inequality, marital violence, improved their decision making capabilities and helped them take charge of their own lives.
Today, we are mobile and have access to social networks just because of education. The internet has opened doors to learning opportunities that go beyond the old traditional classroom. It gives us chance for learning beyond the traditional route. It has given students from across borders opportunities to connect, communicate and work towards building a better future and a better world.
Skill developing education has opened doors to jobs. It helps us to be more productive. It is a fact that the more number of degrees you have better would be your economic performance. Workers who are skilled and educated make more money than others and help drive the economy of the nation. Having higher education gives people the ability to secure stable careers, which means they are able to provide their children with learning opportunities. Education also improves our health. Educated people and their children are less likely to be obese and more likely to live healthy and active lifestyles.
In the developing world today, the impact of education is striking. It changes lives, families, communities and nations. It has an impact on every area of life, be it poverty, health, family or social responsibility. It has broken the oppression of ignorance and opened the door to a new and better life. It has led to improved social responsibility and democracy. Education helps children know their rights and when they know their rights, they are able to exercise them in a better manner. Education helps improve the living standards by advocating for improved sanitation, clean water, healthcare and better governance. Further, for many students, systems of oppression exist in many learning institutions. Education, regardless of class, race, or gender is essential to improve lives. It is our most powerful weapon against inequality in society and thus, investing in education is imperative.
– Major Azhar Alam Khan
