Uma Bharti dropped out of school
after 6th grade. Rabri Devi a.k.a. Mrs. Lalu Prasad studied only
till the age of 14. Raosaheb Patil Danve, the Maharashtra President of BJP has
completed education till class 12. M Karunanidhi, former Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister and President of the DMK dropped out of school after class 10.
Jitender Singh Tomar, the AAP member and former law minister of Delhi claimed
that he had an LLB degree from a college in Bihar. It was later found out that
the degree was fake and his law degree was cancelled.
In
an HSBC survey of around 15 countries and almost 8400 parents it was found out
that on an average, Indian parents spend $18, 909(Rs. 12.25 lacs) on their
children’s education. It is not a huge amount but why is it that our ministers
are not taking full advantage of that? Why is it that some of our top ministers
are not even graduates? Is education not a necessity in this 21st
century? This is the era where almost every political party asks for votes on
the “promise” of providing good and free education to our kids. But, don’t that
party’s ministers need that education? Why is it that there is no clause of
minimum educational qualification in becoming a minister?
If
education is that important for an individual in his daily life, then don’t you
think it has an even greater value in governance? Nelson Mandela rightly said,
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
There is a reason behind his words; and that reason is that he understood the
importance of being educated. He knew how important it is to read and learn
about your surroundings. He understood the fact that education is that powerful
weapon that can make you stand out in a crowd of nincompoops.
Education
has various advantages in the governmental sphere. First, it helps the citizens
to be better voters. Being educated means being able to distinguish between a
good government and a better government and being able to vote for it. Voting
is a legal right and every citizen who is above 18 years should exercise this
right.
Secondly,
educated citizens complaint more. Complaining gets results and it gives the
concerned officials, authorities etc. to perform better. It generates in them a
fear of being reported to their seniors and as a result, they work efficiently.
This power comes to us only by being educated. An illiterate person does not
know that women cannot be arrested before sunrise and after sunset or it is
mandatory for a woman constable to be present when interrogating a rape victim.
Thirdly,
an uneducated person would not know the difference between a myth and a truth.
He/ she would always be confused and mix the former with the latter. We need an
educated leader who knows the difference well and who puts facts and science
before superstitions. An educated person knows that exploiting a person on the
basis of caste is illegal and also making false promises on the basis of
religion is a huge mistake.
Last
but not the least; exposure to global politics and advancements. A mason cannot
tell you about the Brexit that took place a couple of years ago but a graduate
student probably can. A taxi driver probably won’t even know who Donald Trump
is, but you might. That is the difference that education makes. Not every
educated person can be a sensei on global relations but we can expect him to
understand those better than a taxi driver.
Well,
you can lead a human to knowledge but you can’t make him think. Just because a
person becomes irresponsible when he/she comes into power, doesn’t make power
faulty. Education is just a tool. The individual will always be the mechanic.
Sources:-
https://www.scoopwhoop.com/educational-qualifications-of-indian-politicians/#.rm32c8dus
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/03/highly-educated-countries-have-better-governments/284273/
https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/politics/should-politicians-in-india-be-educated
No comments:
Post a Comment