Education holds unquestionable importance in the world we are living in. A better quality of life can only be achieved with an education guiding you towards making correct decisions. Having a right to it is the basic need of a human being.
Centuries ago, the world was at a stage where scholars sacrificed their sleep to unlock the secrets that this universe holds. Today, our scientists are following in their footsteps and making new discoveries to make our lives convenient with knowledge and education.
Education From a Historical Point of View
Education is treated as a beacon of hope and empowerment in the present world. However, it was not always like this, so let’s take a trip back and see how the field of knowledge evolved into what it is now.
We can not miss talking about the Greeks who made relentless and substantial contributions to making new discoveries, specifically in philosophy. Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates are famous philosophers as they shaped educational philosophy.
Socrates takes the crown for encouraging critical thinking among people (also called the Socratic method) and spreading awareness about how dialogue and cognitive abilities are essential assets to newer discoveries. Furthermore, Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s Lyceum were foundational in providing educational institutes that set standards for formal education.
The contributions of Arabs can not go unnoticed either. Arabs have indulged in every field of education, from linguistics to philosophy and art; they learned and taught everything. From the 8th to 13th centuries, they worked hard to translate and preserve the texts of Indians, Persians, Romans, and ancient Greeks. This phenomenon occurred in the Islamic Golden Age and helped safeguard the classical literature.
Moving on to the Romans, between 753 BC and 476 AD, the Romans established a traditional education system that included primary and secondary schools. In thai time, they stressed the importance of education for the future of the Roman Empire. Their contributions ranged from establishing the Roman numeral system to military education. Romans spoke Latin, which served as a base for many languages; even in English, countless words originated from Latin.
All credits belong to our educational history for every single invention and discovery that takes place today. Had it not been for how Arabs worked on mathematics, Greeks worked on philosophy, and Romans worked on building solid educational systems, today’s science would have been lacking majorly.
Organizations Supporting Rights to Education
It is essential for well-known organizations to support the right to education as their efficiency in spreading awareness and taking action is far greater. They ensure that every human being receives equal opportunity to access academic institutions regardless of their circumstances. A few of these organizations and their contributions are discussed here.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
Of the 30 articles in the UDHR, a few are relevant to the right to education. Article 26 addresses this issue and declares that education should be free of cost for the elementary and basic stages and must be used to develop a human personality.
Articles 2, 13, and 27 also indulge in this subject by announcing that there should be no discrimination among humans regardless of their background. People should be given access to education and freedom to participate in cultural activities, and their rights to express themselves should be protected.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Childhood is the most fundamental stage of a person’s personality in adulthood. If a human receives quality education at a young age, their chances of excelling later in life are multiplied by 10s. And UNICEF recognizes the potential a child’s education holds in shaping the future of its country.
UNICEF provides emergency education to children affected by some sort of climate crisis or war. They do that by setting up temporary schools and providing education. Governmental and non-governmental organizations also partner with UNICEF to enhance the quality of their nation’s education.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
In 1990, they established an initiative called ‘Education for All’ (EFA), ensuring that every adult, juvenile, and kid receives equal access to schooling. EFA has improved the global goals for education by setting proper standards.
UNESCO also ensure that the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) – “Quality Education.” is achieved. It is making continuous efforts in the field of science by maintaining international scientific corporations. It addresses climate change and makes research easy for people. As it is known that scientific research provides a base for development and growth, UNESCO makes it easy to share the results of said research globally.
UNESCO has funded several scientific research enhancing the quality of education and that of life. And for this purpose, it partners with other agencies with the United Nations.
Teachers undoubtedly play a foundational role in providing education, and UNESCO recognizes their importance. They are provided with proper training and better work conditions so they can deliver quality education.
How Can Education Shape A Nation
The world constantly evolves, and every country is in a race to become the best and the greatest. So, what makes a nation stand out? The short answer is literacy. The more they are equipped with knowledge and awareness, the better job opportunities they will have.
For a nation to be powerful in every aspect, they need a skilled workforce, and as it is obvious, this is only possible if they invest in education. People with a proper education will be more eligible to start a business or get employment. This reduces poverty’s chances as poverty strips nations of their integrity and dignity.
Educated people are aware of how to take care of their health; therefore, the cost of healthcare is highly reduced, promoting financial stability. This is why equal education is essential so people can leave behind conservative beliefs and be more practical.
It all concludes that providing rights to education to a nation can shape the country thoroughly.
Depriving People of Their Right to Education can Cause Economic Instability
Lack of jobs and fewer opportunities can cause nations to face the havoc of poverty. Poverty can bring any country to its knees by restricting its opportunities. When people have no education, they are unable to get a job. But if you look at it from the top, a lack of schooling leads to a lack of creativity, meaning that people will not even be able to start a business. When there are no companies, there is no employment for anyone.
It all narrows down to poverty and a relatively unstable economy. This has also stressed the importance of having stable and efficient education systems and giving every citizen equal opportunity to access them.
Bottom Line on Rights to Education
In conclusion, a simple education’s significance in a person’s entire life can not be denied. So, education has become fundamental in shaping a human into an honorable person. This is why every human deserves an equal and unbiased opportunity to claim his/her right to education.
In this scenario, if citizens are deprived of this simple right, it can cause a nation’s downfall. For decades, we have seen how illiteracy has ruined nations as their conservative ideas get the best of them while educated nations use the foundations of science to stand at the top.