By Theem Isaac Machar
Education plays a very important role in all areas of society and is most responsible for the development of civilization as we know it. Modern society is built on education, which is visible in several ways:
In building a tolerant society, humankind has come a long way from primitive communities that were solely dedicated to the fight for survival in a harsh and unforgiving environment. People used to fear everything that was different or unknown, as well as phenomena they did not understand. However, new standards have gradually been adopted when it comes to human rights. According to the UN’s Tolerance, “education is the most effective means of preventing intolerance. The first step in diversity education is to teach people what their shared rights and freedoms are, so that they may be respected, and to promote the will to protect those of others.” An educated person is able to not only better interpret their environment but also recognize their rights thanks to the knowledge they acquired in school. Simply put, it is much harder to manipulate an educated, well-informed person than someone who lacks education. Acquiring new knowledge helps people critically approach any information, because such people primarily rely on facts when they pass judgements about anything. Thus, better education helps people better understand social conflicts and the needs of others. Better quality of life for vulnerable populations
The more educated people are, the better they will understand the world around them and will be better able to improve their own lives and the lives of others. This progress is particularly noticeable in vulnerable populations, where education is the best solution for creating better perspectives and achieving success, both for individuals and the community as a whole. A better quality of life is achieved by:
Reducing poverty
Lack of education is the main reason why many families and even entire communities have lived in poverty for generations. Without knowledge, they lack the basic tools needed to change their lives for the better. Education helps young people understand their position and recognize the opportunities available to them.
Acquiring new knowledge and skills opens the door to better-paid jobs, which in turn directly impacts the progress of the entire community. As the education of young people from poor backgrounds is crucial for their advancement and success, more funds are being invested in schooling and guidance so that everyone has an equal chance to become influential members of society.
This improves the social status of a large number of people, who then have the opportunity to find more creative and better-paid jobs, which directly reflects on the success of the whole society, country, and even the whole world, which is faced with similar challenges.
Improving the nation’s health
Education encourages a healthy lifestyle, thus making it easier to tackle challenges such as the poor health of individuals and entire communities. Well-informed individuals will know how to ensure the proper development of their children, as well as when and how to get treatment. Taking health seriously and interpreting information based on the credibility of its sources, combined with the knowledge acquired in school, are the best ways to maintain the psychophysical health of a nation.
Reducing crime. The majority of offenders who end up in prison are young people from poor backgrounds. One of the reasons for that is the lack of perspective that pushes them into a life of crime. Education gives everyone a chance to acquire new knowledge and learn soft skills that will help them improve their lives. Education also helps children to appreciate themselves, their ambitions, and their knowledge from an early age and to understand that they have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is a powerful weapon in the fight against crime and poverty, two challenges that every country in the world is faced with.
Improving social life
A better understanding of the industrialized world and a higher living standard open new opportunities for people to satisfy their cultural needs. Going to the theatre, exhibitions, or concerts enriches one’s social life and brings joy. Indeed, life is more than mere survival, and education enables a higher living standard, greater understanding among people, and personal fulfilment through education, work, and extracurricular activities. A large number of educated people improves the life of a community. Education is integral to providing better job opportunities in fields that are always looking for experts. We are talking about well-paid professions, such as programmers or surgeons. These professions are even able to drive the development of a whole community. However, in order to reach that level, it is necessary to continuously invest in the education of both children and adults who want to reskill or upskill. Although quality higher education is synonymous with career success, education is equally important at all stages of a person’s development.
The foundations for the development of one’s talent and future skills are laid in elementary school, and each subsequent step brings students closer to the ultimate goal: making a career in a field that fulfils them and allows them to achieve their full potential. This is how the education system and the efforts of the whole community help raise and educate young people who believe in themselves. If they make an effort and acquire the right knowledge, they will be in a position to choose a career and job, which in turn opens up a whole range of possibilities for fulfilling their goals, such as buying a house, financial security, a stable family life, etc. Education is a long-term investment in the betterment of all members of society.
Developing talents that change the face of humanity When people are accomplished and successful, they have the ability to give back to their community. Perhaps the most famous examples of such individuals are Kuyok Abol Kuyok, our undersecretary of the national ministry of education, and John Akec, the vice chancellor of the university of Juba, whose mentorship is more about transforming society through education and investing in the development of technologies and methods that could help millions of people in the future (vaccines, environmental issues, food, etc.).
When a society systematically invests in education, there is a possibility of creating a new way of life for people who otherwise would not have a chance to develop their talents. It is a kind of investment in the future and the potential of all members of society, because each of them can contribute to its development.
Education is an integral part of modern society
The development and progress of mankind can be directly attributed to educated people, who drove human society forward. Investing in education raises awareness about major challenges facing society, such as global warming and environmental protection. These things directly affect the quality of life, and they could not be solved without ambitious, creative, and intelligent people who are ready to change the world with their knowledge.
This is why taking education seriously is not just an important decision for an individual but also a socially responsible behavior. Every individual has the power to change the world; the only dilemma is how. There is not a single correct answer to this question, but with a good approach, quality education, hard work, innovation, and creativity, we can be sure that society will remain in good hands.
The writer is a second-year student, University of Juba, School of Education. He is reachable via email theemisaacmachar@gmail.com/+211922218519