NATHANIEL LEE |Education is not just crucial but key to people living their lives to full potential

It was American philosopher and education reformer John Dewey who said that “Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.” Through these unforgettable words, Dewey encapsulates the essence of the education edifice which is to ensure that every human being is given the opportunity to live his or her life to the fullest. Such a concern for the welfare of humanity qualifies education as a moral enterprise.

It can be argued that if a person is educated, he stands a better chance of success in life notwithstanding the fact that guaranteed success cannot be predicated upon education. In a nutshell, the likelihood of succeeding is greater with an education than if the position were the converse.

It is important to unpack the raison d’etre of schools which are the foremost institutions of learning. It is through the learning process that pupils can find their place in the world and fulfil their dreams and aspirations.

Education can allow pupils to become the best, fullest versions of themselves, to learn what interests them, what they are good at, becoming aware and self-conscious about the world around them. In this uncertain world, pupils can establish their place in it and feel complete.

The prospects of social mobility are also enhanced through education. Schools also teach social skills which are an important foundation for societal interaction. It is particularly for this reason that tendencies such as bullying should be discouraged as they militate against the acquisition of social maturity by the pupils.

Through the basic scholastic skills of reading and writing, pupils are acquainted with essential communication skills crucial in business and personal life. Education also encourages critical thinking which translates to every area of life.

These skills are vital for evaluating the veracity of information, to develop solutions to problems, and effective communication. In the age of fake news and alternative facts, the paramountcy of critical thinking skills can never be overemphasised.

Through participation in extramural activities at school, pupils can be exposed to various opportunities such as scholarships which can serve to actualise their potentials. Career goals can be shaped and developed at school to enable pupils to pursue their passions. Communities and countries benefit through the acceleration of poverty reduction through the education of citizens.

Education facilitates access to jobs with higher incomes which will impact positively on society in general. Education is also good for levelling gender fields with the empowerment of girls and women. Lack of access to education opportunities for girls render them vulnerable to gender-based violence, child marriages and human trafficking.

Research also points to reduced maternal deaths due to the influence of educating girls and women. Overall, the economic welfare of countries is enhanced through the education of the population. An educated society is crucial for economic growth.

There is a need for people to continue to learn and research to constantly stay innovative. With a more educated population, more employment opportunities are opened. The hidden goal of education is that it frees parents to participate in the economy which is why teachers are sometimes condescendingly referred to as “babysitters”.

The other important concept in education is that of life-long learning. It ties neatly with the assertion by John Lubbock that “The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as much as that every child should be given the desire to learn.”

The advantages of life-long learning are that being educated and holding a vast amount of knowledge about the world around us, we can live life to the fullest. Education is a never-ending process which means learning continuously in all kinds of forms, whether from other people, newspapers, experiences, research, or traditional classes. With education, people can become better and discerning citizens.

An educated nation can make better political choices such as voting from an informed position of what a particular party stands and not do so blindly. There can be no arguing against education as one of the most important endeavours, if not the most important.

This might explain the contention that teaching is a noble profession. If it is through education that a person will live a more fulfilling life than without it, then education is what we should want for each of our fellow human beings. Education is indeed life.