Importance of Education

 

Education is defined as “ the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for a mature life.” 

Why is education Important?

The definition itself is enough for us to understand the importance of Education in order to have a fulfilling life. Education gives us the ability to shape our lives the way we desire with confidence. It also helps us contribute to our community by being resourceful. An individual who has acquired an education can build a career allowing financial stability, social status and a sense of community. Education is often referred to as the knowledge that books have to offer but we as a society also need to understand and value the education that school as an institution has to offer apart from books. Communication, analytical thinking, discipline, focus, self-discovery and a sense of community are a few attributes that an individual gathers in his early years of learning in a school setup which is as essential as book learning to thrive in adult life. 

Education in the Disadvantaged Backgrounds

                                                

a) Poverty : A vicious cycle

Education is one of the primary needs apart from food, clothing and shelter. Although, the socio-economic backwards class may tend to ignore or underestimate the power of education. Two main reasons for this ignorance are illiteracy and poverty, so it’s a vicious cycle due to lack of education. With India having 26.16% of the world's children population, we are still struggling to increase our literacy rates which indirectly affects our economic growth leading to poverty. The existence of social hurdles like child marriages or economic hurdles like bonded labour has led to more dropouts from school. The lack of family planning often leads to parents choosing to offer education to their children as they can’t afford to educate all. The literacy rate also varies among genders. The girl child is often married off, dropped out as they reach puberty due to lack of menstrual hygiene facilities or are simply not allowed to pursue education. Education acts as a catalyst to help get rid of such social barriers by educating the individual about the difference between right and wrong, giving a wholesome perspective on life. 

                                                  b.) Uneducated Parents: Harsh Parenting

An educated parent is likely to bring up a child in an environment conducive for it to thrive in the world, attaining a good formal education and also an environment at home which is nurturing in all aspects. On the other hand, an uneducated parent might opt for parental styles which are harsh, not suitable for the changing times and often end up demoralizing the child. In such situations, the need for a school for a child from a backward background is even more as a school can provide it with a stimulating environment helping in the emotional and mental growth. Poverty has a dark side to it, often parents are addicts, mentally disturbed, and unavailable due to daily struggles and hardships, which then leads children into further darkness. Schools and the right to education are saving grace for children from backward classes and hope for a better tomorrow. 

We at The Akanksha Foundation are trying to help children from a backwards backgrounds build a life for themselves by providing them good quality education. We are 27 Schools, 575 educators, 14000 students strong and have a long way to go. Let’s better our tomorrow by educating our children.