Education is the birth right of every child. It is the duty of every parent to give this education to his child. Wealth accumulated by the parent for his son or daughter may erode over the years, but knowledge given to the child shall remain an asset forever. This asset only increases in its value as time goes by.
Well, why is education so important to a child? As Francis Bacon, the English philosopher and statesman has said ‘Knowledge is Power’. Knowledge is imparted to a child through education in his formative years in the classroom. A child acquires the language skills which help him express his ideas and feelings, mathematical skills that aid him in understanding the value of time and money, and science that tells him how his forefathers developed this comfortable world in which he lives today. While studying history in the classroom conveys to a child how our ancestors sacrificed their lives for the freedom he enjoys today, geography opens up this beautiful world he lives in.
The knowledge gained through the aforementioned five subjects equips children to face this modern, competitive world. While a good teacher will facilitate in understanding and appreciating the contributions made by our predecessors, an inspirational teacher will make at least a few of her students think of what they could contribute to this world. This should be one of the results of our educating children. Education thus goes beyond imparting mere knowledge.
Education teaches values such as punctuality, discipline, obedience, honesty, conscientiousness, self-esteem and resilience to name a few. It provides these qualities required for life to a child through his teachers, parents and peers. It is because of these endless benefits that Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Education is the key to eliminating gender inequality, to reducing poverty, to creating a sustainable planet, to preventing needless deaths and illness, and to fostering peace”. Education thus prepares individuals to play their roles with responsibility in this global village.
In India, education for children from six to fourteen years is a Fundamental Right. This right not only empowers and helps them realize their potential but also gives financial independence. A complete individual evolves only after undergoing the right kind of education. Imparting such education to the next generation is the bounden duty of parents, teachers and educational institutions. The path to a better world with better individuals shall thus be laid.