“The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but that makes our life in harmony with all existence.” - Rabindranath Tagore
Our life of harmony is currently plagued by a planetary crisis and rising global trends toward autocracy. Authoritarianism has resulted in more wars, death, corruption, militarism, violence targeted at vulnerable communities, and limitations on freedom of speech.
The worldwide environmental crisis has triggered global warming, pollution, drought, severe storms, mass migration, and a host of other problems that have caused untold suffering in terms of human health and our ecosystem.
How do we begin to address such seemingly overwhelming issues and restore balance and harmony? What can we do today to stem the tides that threaten our nations and planet?
The good news is that there is much that we, as individuals, and together as members of society, can do to build a better future.
Indeed, there are multiple strategies to promote democracy and defend against further environmental deterioration. Some may seek to restructure legal systems to strengthen democracy while others may turn to empowering civil society and enhancing government transparency.
For environmental problems, strategies include reducing consumption, adopting sustainable transportation options, conserving energy, recycling and promoting clean and renewablesources of energy.
However, for me, education remains one of the most powerful tools overall for creating more informed citizens and a sustainable future.
Societies need to invest heavily in education and media literacy at the primary and secondary school levels. In the words of Nelson Mandela, the Nobel Prize-winning anti-apartheid leader and the first president of South Africa: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
Countless historical examples exist where education was used as a tool for nation-building. With the liberation of South Africa from apartheid, the Bantu education system, which had brought African education under the control of the White government and extended apartheid to black schools, was abolished. It was replaced by a reformed curriculum that empowered all communities and promoted democratic development and reform.
Another example is found in South Asia’s struggle against British colonial rule. Leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore promoted ethical and practical education based on South Asian language and traditions. In addition, Western-educated leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan, and Subhas Chandra Bose used their knowledge to argue for independence and nationalist ideals.
Several nations have also recognized the importance of teaching children about environmental problems. For example, Cambodia, Argentina, and the United Kingdom have integrated climate change education into their public education systems. Finland too incorporates environmental education into its national curriculum. Other notable countries that have made similar efforts include Poland and Japan.
Conversely, education has also been used as a tool of oppression. In the 19th and 20th centuries, residential schools for indigenous peoples in Canada and the US resulted in children being removed from their families and sent to boarding schools whose goal was to “Kill the Indian, and save the man.” This type of cultural genocide resulted in neglect, widespread abuse, and death.
Another notorious example of education as a means of indoctrination involved Nazi Germany. The government curriculum emphasized Nazi ideology, racial supremacy, anti-semitism, and loyalty to Hitler. Textbooks and teacher training openly reflected Nazi propaganda.
Education’s ability to be either a tool of progress or of oppression depends on its content. What should we be teaching future generations and leaders if we want to secure the planet and democracy?
To achieve these twin goals, education must promote ethics, civic duty, tolerance, pluralism, and peace. Teaching critical thinking, building knowledge independently, and resisting fake news are essential for developing a citizenry that understands its rights and responsibilities while also engaging in debate.
Educating people, particularly young people, about the actions that individuals can take to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis is critical. In addition, it is crucial to integrate environmental studies into curricula, to develop hands-on learning and to implement green school practices.
These skills, principles and experiences can then be reflected in action. Across the world today, young people are often taking the lead in being advocates for the planet and democracy.
The role in Bangladesh
Education has played a critical role in the history of Bangladesh. It has shaped national identity, driven economic development, and reduced poverty. The centrality of education to Bangladesh’s identity dates to the Language Movement of 1952. Since then, education has been key to the country’s economic growth and has helped usher in the rapid improvements that have resulted in the expectation that, within the next year, it will graduate from being a least developed country (LDC) to a middle income nation.
Moreover, Bangladesh has made notable progress in girls’ education and gender parity, with the current education gender parity rate standing at an impressive 93.6%.
As Bangladesh continues to transition, the ambit of the nation’s education policy can be expanded to imagine a future unlike any before. Singapore serves as an example of an Asian country where an investment in education has resulted in acknowledged success.
From the 1980s onward, the Singaporean government selected education and an emphasis on the development of human capital as key to its growth. The state invests heavily in education. Their curriculum encourages creative and critical thinking and even allows autonomous schools to design their own curriculum.
Ultimately, the greatest power of education lies in its ability to transform an individual -- to open minds to knowledge, ideas, innovation and service to one’s community.
To achieve these laudable goals, we need:
When we invest in education, we ignite the most powerful engine of change the world has ever known. We are empowered to create our future.
Anika Rahman is a lawyer who has dedicated her career to championing opportunities for women and girls and for sustainability of the planet. She currently serves as the Managing Director andCEO of Bangladesh International Tutorial. Shehas a BA from Princeton University and a JD from Columbia University School of Law.