“The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.” –Rabindranath Tagore
Hello, I’m Upasana. I’ve spent six years teaching in schools and colleges. However, I’ve never been satisfied with the traditional definition of education given by our school system.
To find the true meaning of education, I conducted my own research. I interviewed people, read numerous books, talked with superiors, and consulted experienced individuals.
I also utilized the vast resources available on the internet. Today, I will share my comprehensive understanding of what real education means.
In addition to my teaching experience, I run a YouTube channel called ‘Apna Education Wala’ and an Instagram account where I share informative reels and videos on similar topics. Through these platforms, I aim to provide valuable insights and knowledge to a wider audience.
Now, let’s dive into the essence of true education and what it truly encompasses.
The Real Education:
Building Minds and Character
“Education does not just mean memorizing facts and information. It means that education should give us ideas to become right people, build good characters, and make life better.
Like, it is more important than just memorizing math formulas. We should understand how to apply them in our daily life, like budgeting.
Similarly, understanding and adopting values like honesty and kindness is also a part of education. The goal of education should be not just to know, but to learn how to do well. Be a human being and be successful in life.
Education: A Holistic Approach to Learning, Skills, and Values
Education is the process of learning knowledge, skills, and values. It’s a systematic and well-organized method that supports learning and personal growth.
Schools, colleges, and universities, as well as informal settings like homes and communities, all play a part in education.
Education empowers individuals to think critically, solve problems, and adapt to new situations. It fosters intellectual and emotional development, promoting a well-rounded and balanced life.
The goal of education is to nurture responsible, informed, and compassionate citizens who contribute positively to society.
The Real Education: Respect and Behavior
The real education is how you behave with others who are not as educated. Behavior is always greater than knowledge. No matter how educated you are, the way you treat people speaks a lot about you.
Some people tend to have ego for their knowledge and treat others like they are nothing compared to them. This feeling of superiority lowers their level compared to those who are well-behaved but not so educated.
I have seen families where only the husband works, and the wife handles the home and babies. The husband behaves like he works hard at the office and his wife does nothing at home. He thinks she is better at nothing. Homemaking is as hard as a 9–7 job. No matter how educated the husband is, his thinking and behavior towards his wife say a lot.
So,The real education is to learn to respect everyone, whether educated or not
True Education: Respect, Self-Learning, and Adapting to Life’s Challenges
Education is not just about passing a class or getting a degree. It is about getting from life what you want. It is about gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve your goals.
That is why education is not just about sitting in a classroom and taking notes or listening to lectures. Education is about thinking for yourself, adapting to any situation, expressing and communicating your thoughts clearly, developing an inquisitive mind, and having a thirst for knowledge.
Education is not just about gaining useful skills. It is about getting out of it what you put into it. If you don’t put in the effort and don’t truly learn, you’ll never really know what you don’t know, and so you’ll never really learn. True education is self-education. It is the ability to be inquisitive.
True education: Research and Develop
True education is not measured by time spent in school but by one’s ability to learn and adapt to an ever-changing environment. We are living in the age of advanced technology.
With the availability of information on the internet, it has become easier to learn various things. The traditional ways of education should not be ignored but blended with new advanced technology.
Edtech will help the new generation learn more and expand their knowledge. Edtech uses tools and programs to stimulate student learning, including computers and other digital devices. True education teaches you to teach yourself and inspires you to do that.
To achieve that, you need to know how to read and, more importantly, why. You need to write: not just cipher but to communicate ideas. You need to learn to research and develop the knack of knowing that there are things you don’t know but can nonetheless seek out.
You need enough exposure to every field of human endeavor to see why people do them and help choose one that you can contribute to while appreciating the work others put in. You need to know that you inhabit a human body, a complex and remarkable but fragile machine, which will do the most amazing things if you treat it well.
Education: Understanding, Developing Skills, Values, and Building Character
The process of understanding, developing abilities, beliefs, and values through instruction, training, research, and experience is what we call education. But, education is more than just putting information into our brains.
It’s about building character, shaping our lives, and creating a collection of meaningful ideas. It helps us learn how to be good people, think for ourselves, and make smart choices.
Education is about growing as a person, learning to work with others, and finding ways to make our lives and the world better.
Conclusion: Embracing True Education
In summary, true education is beyond the memorization of facts and figures. As Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: “Learning gives creativity, creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge, and knowledge makes you great.
It is about developing a well-rounded character, cultivating the ability to think critically, and applying knowledge in meaningful ways. Rabindranath Tagore’s perspective reinforces this idea by emphasizing that education should harmonize with all aspects of life, not just fill us with information.
Throughout my six years of teaching, I realized that traditional education often falls short of this broader vision. My quest for a deeper understanding led me to explore various resources, engage with experts, and utilize modern technology. I discovered that education is not confined to classrooms or degrees but is a lifelong journey of self-discovery and growth.
Education’s true essence lies in respecting others, regardless of their educational background, and in applying knowledge to improve ourselves and our world. It involves learning to adapt, think independently, and communicate effectively.
True education empowers us to be inquisitive, to seek out knowledge actively, and to integrate new technologies with traditional learning methods.
Ultimately, education is about nurturing our abilities, shaping our values, and building meaningful character. It prepares us to navigate life’s challenges, work collaboratively, and contribute positively to society.
As we move forward in an age of rapid technological advancement, let us remember that the real measure of education is not the marks we achieve but the way we use our knowledge to make a difference in our lives and the world around us.
By embracing this comprehensive view of education, we can foster a more enlightened, respectful, and capable society, one where learning is truly a pathway to personal and collective success.
Sadly, education today often revolves around one thing: marks.
In the present educational system, marks are seen as everything. They decide your future, your career, your intellect, your success. But in real life, these are just numbers. Marks don’t determine who you will be. The system should support learning, not just scoring high marks. We shouldn’t lose great minds because they don’t fit into a numerical mold.