Merits of education

Education is necessary for the development and progress of any nation or civilisation. History is evident to the fact that no nation can reach the height of glory without educating its masses. At one time japan, Singapore and china were devastated due to wars. These countries are progressing by leaps and bounds due to education. Those countries who have ignored the education system are weak in all sphere of life. Pakistan and Afghanistan and many south asian countries are left behind the developing countries due to their poor education system. They have not realised the importance of education and ultimately other socioeconomic and political sectors also not progressed

Merits of education:

social benefits:

On social front, education ensures women empowerment, inculcate civic sense among masses, and provide better life opportunities. It helps to improve culture and develop civilisation in society.

Economic benefits:

Education undergoes social mobility through knowledge based economy. After agriculture revolution and post industrial revolution, knowledge based economic revolution is most significant development. Its main highlights are power of knowledge and human development through knowledge based economy. However there is issue in social mobility. The poor people due to lack of better education facilities can't mobilise themselves while elite class is self reproducing because the same students provide the same opportunities to their children. Hence elite class is getting more and more rich while the poor is getting poorest.

Political benefits:

Education has wide ranging political benefits. It inculcates political consciousness among masses. Political knowledge leads to better choice of political leader. It improves suffrage ratio and ultimately democracy in a democratic society.

Religious benefits:

Education prevents from religion extremism and dogmas. Religion always put some curbs regarding certain things. However, society moulds the facts for their own interests. For achieving self-motivated aims people use religion as a tool. However, education promotes religious tolerance in society

Cultural benefits:

On cultural fronts, education helps to develop culture and civilisation. It is only education due to which Athenian civilisation is still rulings the hearts and imagination of mankind. Philosophers of Athens had reflected the civilisation through education.

Problems faced by education system :

Extremism:

Extremism is the biggest hurdle faced by education. Education system can't prosper where religious extremism is most prominent. Attack on Army public school accompanied by killing of hundreds of innocent children in Pakistan are such examples. The agenda of slipper cells and extremists is to curb education in certain areas to keep them backward.

Agenda driven curriculum:

Education is made agenda driven for prominent self interests. For instance, in Pakistan zia ul haq a prominent leader had changed the national curriculum of Pakistan and made its religion centric. In longer run it caused the spread of extremism in Pakistan. As it had promoted conservative mindset in society and intolerance regarding other religions and culture.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, there are many benefits of education that ensures the development of society. These benefits are beyond description. However, hurdles faced by education system will not allow it to prosper in true meanings. In order to enjoy the true dividends of education there is a need to provide education to every citizen on equal footings.