THE TRUE VALUE OF EDUCATION

By Azeez Olademeji

Over the years, almost the majority if not all the acclaimed educated people can not succinctly tailor their ideas presentably; the true value of education has been misguided as majority see education solely as a gateway towards getting a white collar job or praise by people for the fun of it.

These people fail to ask themselves what should be the real value of education and quest to know the essence of acquiring education in a broader scale.

Nonetheless, before I elucidate further the theme of this write-up ( the true value of education), it should be justifiable to make a brief and precise meaning of education in its literal sense.

Thus, according to Wikipedia "education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits"

The English dictionary explains further as the process of receiving or giving systematic instructions, especially at a school or university.

Making a reference as to these literal explanation or definitions, there is no where it is clearly put; the motive of education is strictly to gain white collar job.

In spite of this, I make bold to say people have being aged long misconstrued what should be the real value of education. Most importantly, in this our clime. People don't go to school anymore for any motive other than to graduate and begin to search for salary job either with government or private firms.

This preconception of people towards education has always been the bane to growth and development in our economy, as majority of these educated ones have restricted the value of what they have (education) to salary work alone, In lieu of using this advantage of their education for more innovative ventures. As the usefulness of it remains limitless compares to their own narrow view about education and its value. And Sadly, these salary jobs are also non - existent.

To compound the issue, majority of these educated people prefer to remain unemployed as long as their searched salary work or white collar jobs refuse to be forthcoming.

It is as a result of this aged long misconception of people towards education; especially the educated ones about the real value of education in its widest and rational sense prompted the idea behind this write-up.

The reason behind the acquisition of education should never be limited to gaining salary work alone, rather the tentacle of its usefulness should be stretched further to other ingenious areas depending on individual capacity.

The value of education is far beyond its traditional meaning, as its modern values could be said to have caught across all the spheres and facets of human life.

It has also been proven over time; even the artisan, entrepreneur or be it any other skilled workers with traces of education can never be anywhere adjudged equally with their peers with no such educational qualities.

These are the cogent points to depict the fact that, the value of education has recently gone far beyond gaining of white collar jobs alone, but how wide one or society can use the opportunity of being an educated fellow and apply its endless value to one's endeavours.

On this note, my take on this is to ensure that it is conspicuously noted and continues ringing in our ears as educated fellows; the value of education in its traditional sense is no longer in vogue, as modern usefulness of education has long taken over.

The republic of China is one of the fastest economic growing nations if not the number one in recent years. All these happened not because she has the highest numbers of people working in salary base jobs,  but because she's the country with fastest promotion of innovation.

Conclusively, what should be the value of education before us? Henceforth, is to be referred as "a ladder through which one can go as higher as possible in life without impediment. A bedrock for series of innovative ideas, and resistance towards the unlawful infringement of one's rights"

All these and the likes should be the modern value of education, rather than the former (gaining of salary job).

This opinion is written by Azeez Oladimeji a student of Public Admin, from University of Illorin Nigeria (unilorin)

What do you think is the value of Education? Drop your comments below.

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