“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” This quote by WB Yeats beautifully summarises what education’s purpose is. It is not supposed to perform a limited function of giving knowledge to a person in order to make them employable; it is about lighting a fire within them and setting them on a path of growth and self-discovery. It is not just about getting education for the sake of employment; it is about igniting curiosity, nurturing character and encouraging a lifelong love for learning.
When you enter a government-run school in India, especially in the semi-urban and rural parts of the country, you will find a beautiful saying on its gate. On one side of the gate is written ‘enter for knowledge’ and on the other side – ‘leave for service’. This encapsulates the purpose of education. You gain knowledge so that you can serve the society, not just for your own benefit. It is about building individuals who are not only employable but are also responsible, empathetic and active participants in society.
How Education Shapes an Individual’s Future
First of all, it equips everyone to navigate the complexities of the modern world. Education prepares us to survive and thrive in the world. It helps us be ready to take on the challenges that come our way. Beyond that, education helps individuals develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. It also fosters creativity, innovation and adaptability, which are essential in an ever-changing global landscape.
We live in a global world today, with everyone connected with each other, and with easy access to different cultures and ideas. This also makes our world complex as it means everyone has to adapt with the constantly evolving social constructs. Through education, an individual learns to be a part of this global community. It doesn’t matter where we are born and what are the underlying beliefs that are ingrained in our smaller communities; education allows us to know about the great arc of history and understanding the world beyond our limited lenses.
Education helps individuals to gain knowledge about different traditions and practices and perspectives and ways of life. This promotes tolerance, empathy, and cooperation. Education also instills values such as integrity, responsibility and respect, which are crucial for personal and professional success.
History of Education and its Role in the Society
Education is as old as civilisation. As humans developed cognition and advanced ways of perceiving their surroundings, they began production and acquisition of knowledge. Whether it is the invention of language, discovery of fire or agriculture; all of these pivotal events in history that provided the necessary momentum for the human race to grow and dominate were all possible because there was someone out there willing to learn and use that knowledge actively.
Ancient civilizations, such as India, Egypt, Greece and China, recognised the importance of education and established systems to impart knowledge and skills to their citizens. In ancient Greece, philosophers like Plato and Aristotle emphasised the role of education in developing virtuous and knowledgeable citizens. In India, learned men and women wrote texts, debated them, and then developed institutions that were a global attraction. For example, Nalanda University was a major centre for study of philosophy, tradition, Buddhism and much more.
Throughout history, education has been a catalyst for societal development and progress. The Renaissance period, for example, saw a renewed emphasis on education and learning, leading to significant advancements in art, science and philosophy. The Industrial Revolution brought about a shift in education, with a focus on technical and vocational skills to meet the demands of the growing industries.
Over the following decades and centuries, we see eminent institutions coming up around the world as the knowledge expands and progresses. In Europe, institutions like Oxford were established in the Americas, places like Harvard became much-coveted institutions for those seeking modern knowledge. The introduction of universal education in the 19th and 20th centuries is trying to ensure that knowledge is accessible for everyone. There is also a renewed focus on ensuring education for all because it is the only way through which we can reduce conflict and progress together as a global community.
Modern Education and its Contribution to Human Progress
This brings us to the important topic of modern education. Today, we have well-established institutional structures which are inspired by the primarily western model of instruction. It has enabled scientific discoveries, technological progress, secular understanding of the world and economic growth. As we face newer challenges, modern education also adapts and works towards dealing with these challenges like climate change.
Having said that, we are also seeing various debates and experiments in the field of education as we gain more understanding. There is greater emphasis on learning without fear, replacing the old style examination system with more dynamic ways of assessment and integrating concepts of social and emotional learning in the classrooms. All of this is being discussed because we are realising that education is not just about finding jobs but also about shaping our future.
The Broader Purpose of Education
While employability is an important aspect of education, it should not be its sole focus. Education is supposed to teach us values such as community, gender equality, cultural integrity, peace, empathy and social responsibility. These values are essential for building a just, inclusive and harmonious society.
As discussed above, one of the important aspects of education is also social-emotional learning. It is about developing skills like self-management, self-awareness, relationships skills, social awareness and responsible decision making. Integrating SEL into education helps create emotionally aware and socially responsible adults who can navigate the complexities of life with resilience and empathy.
Moving Beyond Employability
As we have looked at the various aspects of education and discussed its purpose in detail, it is perhaps easier to understand why we need to move beyond employability while thinking about education. While it is true that we need productive individuals to join the workforce, we must also remember that we are not building machines but nurturing humans and that’s why education must focus on civic engagement, personal development and lifelong learning.
This means students should not be restricted to the most in-demand topics to learn which enable them to earn good salaries in future, but they should also be encouraged to engage with subjects like literature, philosophy, history, etc. Civic engagement is another crucial aspect of education. It involves teaching students about their rights and responsibilities as citizens, encouraging them to participate in their communities and fostering a sense of social justice and activism. Civic education helps create informed and active citizens who can contribute to the betterment of society.
At the same time, every individual must be encouraged to become a knowledge seeker so that their learning and growth does not stop the moment they become employed. Education should be a lifelong companion to any individual.
At the end of this article, we understand why education cannot just be about employability. While we build the workforce for tomorrow, we must also focus on building empathetic, secure, responsible and creative humans. We must integrate values of respect, secularism, equality, and integrity in education. Because education is about igniting the fire within individuals, not just filling their pail.
