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| Photo by the Author |
“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.“ – Malcolm Forbes
Education. This word and its concept are always connoted with importance—perhaps a vital part of life itself. While most of the time, it is deemed a human right, a process, and an investment, one might also think of it as power.
With that, I have a primary question I want to ask: why is our government negligent in improving the education system in our country?
Today, we commemorate a timely event—the International Day of Education—recognizing the importance of education and equal opportunities in learning for all. As children, we were sent to school with the hope that our minds would, as time goes, become a library of thoughts and ideas. We start off with minute knowledge about the world around us and as we grow up in academic institutions, knowledge from educators, books, and video presentations fill us up. The whos, whats, whens, and wheres—we absorb them all, and sometimes, with little to no room for interpretation given. We become mirrors, sponges, or cups to be filled.
Education is so powerful that it can turn a hollow container full to the brim with ideas—for better or worse. We grow up with all this various information drilled into us, becoming our basis for judgment and basic understanding of how society works. That’s how we learn, that’s how we are formed as persons.
Now, with all of this said, I have a confession to make.
I used to idolize the Marcoses. I was always amazed at how they spearheaded the "Golden Age" and how, as other people have said time and time again, one dollar equated to one peso before. The Philippines was a great country because of the Marcoses, so they say. I remember when we were in 10th grade, we had a report about the Marcos dynasty in Ilocos, and I remember how I proudly said that Bongbong Marcos and his son Sandro will be the future of our country.
No one told me to halt or rethink what I said. Rather, I was simply graded on what I presented. I remember it all too well, and now, I seethe at the very thought of them leading the country once again. I am not embarrassed, rather, I am concerned about how my education misled me.
Education forms our minds. Our beliefs, opinions, knowledge, wisdom, bias—all of them.
If books and subjects made me believe that history is nothing more than names and dates, that abuses were justified for the development of the country, and that true power is shown in a dictatorship, then something is wrong with how the education system teaches its students—at least, some parts of it.
I say all of this because it was also education that opened my eyes. When I became a senior high school student, professors finally taught me how the government should work, serve, and lead. I learned about the classification of rights and their importance, different kinds of laws and how they are used, and the types of governments and their power.
I also learned how to separate facts from lies, propaganda, and opinion. The gist of it, I learned better. Terms, names, and dates weren’t much important, rather it was the essence. The blurred lines on morals, justice, and history come into clarity. I can think for myself again, no longer a container that rattles when shaken.
Education is power—and I've never felt more powerful than when my eyes were finally opened to the truths of society, breaking stigmas, and making my own choices. How lucky am I to be afforded this knowledge?
However, if education is truly powerful, what does that make of people who never got to study at all? Those who had to stop because of financial matters and those who can’t afford to go to a higher-quality institution? Does that make them powerless?
Is this the reason why the progress of education in our country remains on the sidelines? Why is quality education tucked behind a paywall, with resources outdated, and with teachers that receive little pay? Is this all to keep the masses as powerless as possible so they’ll be easier to control, to trick? With inclusive and equitable quality education, the people become empowered—to topple administrations, change abusive cultures, and finally speak, think, and fend for themselves and their rights.
As we celebrate the International Day of Education with the theme “to invest in people, prioritize education,” I call on parents and educators, as well as organizations to bear the responsibility of upholding this matter. With an administration adamant on overlooking our country’s current educational crisis and concerns, the United Nation’s call to prioritizing education is all the more important. You are the only ones who can provide the power of education to the masses even those as young as children. Through education, open their minds and let them grow to become powerful individuals.
