Why is Education Tomorrow’s Wealth?
By Abdelmjid Seghir
Morocco News Tribune
In case you’re having any doubts, a quick look at all the places where poverty has a powerful hold will eventually make it clear that poverty and illiteracy are inseparable. Actually, illiteracy is poverty’s stronghold and faithful realm where all kinds of indecency, crimes and even terrorism flourish. Therefore, governments, especially in third world countries, must stop looking for “lame” excuses to justify the high illiteracy and low college graduates rates in their countries. Third world countries must be ready for effective and ferocious wars on ignorance, instead.
Why should I pursue higher education?
Honestly, convincing people that education creates fortune is one of the hardest endeavors one can attempt to take. The fact that there is usually a huge gap between the level of education of the workforce and their paychecks makes it difficult to be convincing. Therefore, many people might end up questioning the purpose behind education and might ask: “Why bother to get a decent education when I can start a career at a young age and earn money?”
Actually, I get this a lot. As a teacher, many of my students question the necessity of education. They usually ask the following questions: “Our neighbor never went to school and he’s well-off, so why should I get good grades? Why should I study hard? Why should I get an education in the first place?”
In my defense, I tell my students that there might be rich people who have never been to school, but: “Can those people use a computer? Can they speak different languages to interact with people from different cultures and different parts of the world? Can they write and/or read a letter? Can they use a smartphone? Can they enjoy a foreign movie or song? Can they think critically about their lives and the world around them? Can they enjoy reading books?”
Of course, my students’ answer to all of these questions is a shy “No.” This is usually how I lay the ground to my subsequent explanation which I am willing to share with you all in this post.
How does education create fortune?
Technology has nowadays shifted how we see and interact with the world. The Internet, Capitalism and Globalization have altered what corporations seek in their employees to a big extent. In other words, muscles won’t secure you a good position, skills will. Therefore, it’s become indispensable for everyone to seek higher education, learn languages and have great computing skills. The market no longer tolerates incompetence, especially during the current international financial crisis. Positions have become a rarity, and competition has become fiercer than ever.
Looking at the issue from a different perspective, one can see that education plays a key role in broadening people’s intellectual horizons, empowering them (especially women), and improving their standards of living. Furthermore, education is the answer to many of our social problems in third world countries. For example, countries that have the best educational systems (Japan for example) have the lowest domestic violence rates, coincidence?
Moreover, education is undoubtedly the real renewable resource that nations should focus on for a brighter future for their nations. This is what the Japanese did, and it paid off really well!
So, back to the main question now, “How does education create fortune?”
Below is a list of points that might answer this question:
- People with a college degree have better chances to land in better positions and earn more money than people with no education.
- A better position doesn’t mean more earnings only, but social security and health insurance as well.
- Higher education is still free in Morocco, so students won’t have to shoulder the burden of refunding huge student loans.
- Moroccan universities have started many professional B.As and M.As and started offering management classes even for literary studies’ students.
- People with college degrees enjoy more opportunities for ongoing professional development.
For more details check this link: “Education Pays, The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society“
But education costs a lot!
“We’re doing our best but education costs a lot.” This is a typical excuse given by many governments to justify the decay in their educational systems. This, of course, is one of the excuses that no one should accept, anymore. The primary reason we shouldn’t accept this excuse is because it’s FALSE! It just needs a government with long-term visions to understand that education will eventually cost a lot LESS than ignorance.
Building schools, hiring competent teachers, preparing adequate infrastructures will inevitably cost considerable amounts of money. Nonetheless, the fruits will quickly show up and the nation will benefit from investing in minds.
So, no development shall take place unless we’re aware that knowledge and education are tomorrow’s wealth. We shouldn’t expect miracles unless we’re truly willing to get engaged and invest in education. This is the only way to secure a bright future for the society, culture and economy of our nation.
Abdelmjid Seghir is a teacher of English, writer and public speaker. He holds a BA in TEFL and ICT from Ibn Zohr university, Agadir in 2010. His areas of interest include a variety of topics such as ICT, education, culture and cultural issues, photography and sports. His articles, papers and short stories have been published in many paper-based as well as electronic outlets. These include the American Language Center’s magazine “Oasis” and MATE’s (Moroccan Association of Teachers of English) 2012 conference proceedings. Seghir speaks in seminars and gives presentations at MATE’s conferences on a regular basis.
