Education has never been a priority. While it might have been a priority individually,never a priority as a country.
Why? Because it is an investment which reaps benefits only later. Because those benefits are not apparent and on the face of it. All this while children are judged on the basis of how they perform in school,especially for conservative countries like ours but never has it ever come down to what and how the process has been for it all along.
Schools have always come under the category of one size fits all type of approach. There have been already numerous number of debates which expose those institutions to criticism for the way they structure education. This is not something which is new. But why is this a problem that nobody is solving? Because this is something which does not come under the category of one size fits all. Therefore,reforms in a system which has no one perfect solution to it cannot possibly work out.
What is the downside to not solving it? That education could close up various gaps. Some of our country’s major problems involve population,income inequality,gender wage gap,cultural barriers to name a few. But the point is that investing in its education system would also solve a lot of those problem.
Population: This is something which needs to be paid attention to soon whereas no efforts are taken place to curb it. Basic awareness could solve such a problem,but to no avail. The other aspect of this is that labour resource provided to us is not being used efficiently. How do you use it efficiently? By educating and helping them to garner skills.
Income Inequality: The gap just seems to widen further every year. You solve this one with education as well. It restricts unemployment,one of the prime factors in developing countries and lessens the gap of wealth between individuals. Unemployment in turn also lessens crime. Seems like a win-win.
Gender wage gap:Studies show that women tend to be in less paying industries than men. Equality among genders is still a dream and therefore in many countries like ours which are crippled with conservatism,working women is still a taboo thereby leaving women with almost no education and skills. You’re right,education helps here as well. Education gnaws on those myths and stereotypical values promoting causes such as equality and the whole spectacle behind women are only made for children and maternity.
Cultural barriers: Racism,communalism and all sorts of discriminatory tactics which exist worldwide are something which claw onto you early on. While it is difficult for our older relatives to be “woke”,our present and future generations can help. All of these cultural barriers can be eradicated with awareness. Such rifts and discrimination also causes destabilizing of the country and the economy which certainly does not aid a country’s goal.
Our government needsl0 to pay attention to this untapped investment which with a little bit of nudging can shift the forces of the world.
Comment below whatever you think can also be solved by educating people around you 🙂
Humans for Change 