Six years back, I started reading "Dawn", a newspaper. Since then, I have been reading in every opinion related to education that Pakistan has 25/26 million out-of-school-children aged between 5 and 16. It means 1 out of every 3 children in Pakistan is not receiving any sort of formal education. Moreover, those who are getting formal education their literacy rate is bare minimum. Some critics have also argued the figure is underepresented. Now, before writing this piece, I looked up the Unesco website, and found out that five-years back we - the world - had approxiamtely 258-260 million children and young people out of school. Today, this figure has climbed to 273 million, and real figure, according to the estiamte is closer to 286 million.
Moving forward, all these figures are boring. Because, the one who are getting education already know this; those who are not does not even care about it.
Just yesterday, I went to pick up my cousin from the examination centre. Unfortunately, I was 30 minutes early, so I just parked and sat beside a vendor seller. And it was a 12 years old kid. By far, there is no problem in this, because he must learn to earn at this early age. But, he does not go to any school, anymore. Inflation and his father death is the reason behind it.
Oh! The creulty of life.
Since then, I am still questioning: do I have to feel pity or ashamed?
Not to brag on with morality based questions and answers, because it is not going to solve any problem. Although, education is quite cheap in Pakistan. There is no doubt in it. There is this Rs.20 ($0.07 US) monthly fees, free books are provided, proper infrastructure (not for all tho), and other perks such as providence of meal in Punjab and stipend is provided. Then, why this kid and many other like him are not being able to go to schools? Let just forget about formal education. They is not even informal education. Yes, he is earning. But, what are the chances for him or them to break this cycle? It reminds me of harsh quote from "The White Tiger" written by Aravind Adiga:
"The roosters in the coop smell the blood... They see the organs of their brothers lying around them. They know they are next. Yet they do not rebel. They do not try to get out of the coop."
The Educated and Uneducated can never be the same
This is not a statement of superiority or inferiority. This is the reality of life. All the progress, human beings have made is the result of this education. The journey began with simple: WH questions. And, look where we stand today? From discovering fire to exploring Mars, we have come a long way. But, the basic necessities are still in disrray. The kid and I, yes we can still talk, we can still spend some quality time together. But, there is a gap between the way we perceive things. Not to look down upon him or others like him. This whole thing is the result of systematic failure. It is not a mere governmental or specifc year failure; we have been building this coop, knowingly or unknowingly does not matter. Because we all are guilty of it.
Normalizing this contradiction
The saddest part is that we have normalized this contradiction. A child working on the roadside no longer surprises us. We pass by, pity them, buy something, perhaps even admire his "hard work" or maybe tell our little one, if you do not study, you will be like them. Rarely do we stop to ask why a 12-year old has become the breadwinner of a family when his only responsibility should have been to learn, play and dream big.
Long-Term Investment
I would be lying, if I say that education is just for the learning sake. Education is also about earning, especially in this contrary world. However, we often take education or degree as the source of some capital, forgetting about the bigger picture. Unlike roads, bridges or bulding, its returns are not immediate. The child who enters a classroom today may become a doctor 20-years later. Or may become a teacher, who will transforms hundreds of over the course of a career. Simply spreading the benefit to generations.
Tragedy
The real tragedy is that we see these numbers, as mere ordinary numbers. Statistics should disturb us, not numb us. Behind every digit is a face, a family and a future waiting for an opportunity that may never arrive. Just because we all are so full of our lives that we do not care about anyone else or anything else.
Influencers
These so-called influencers will come up with few names, saying that they all became billionaire without a degree. GREAT! Once again you guys failed to realize the real worth of education. Billionaire or trillionaire or whatever, money is success because this capitalist society made you think that. Maybe it is time to use one's own brain. So every time someone says, 'Bill Gates dropped out,' they conveniently forget that he first got into one of the world's most prestigious universities and had access to opportunities that billions can only dream of.
Great Equalizer
Life is unfair, we all agree on this one fact. If you don't, maybe you need to give it another try. We are not born into the same families, cities or opportunities. Some inherit good fortune; others inherit debts. Even people living in the same household has different values. Now if I say that education can erase inequality, then I will be delusional as well. Because it cannot erase inequality. However, it remains one of the few tools capable of narrowing the gap. It gives a child the chance - not guarantee it. But one chance is all that matters to change lives.
What success really means
We often measure a nation's progress through GDP, infrastructures and figures revolving around economic growth. Those are important, but they are outcomes, not foundations. The real strength is hidden in formal education, but it is the most important aspect.
To put an end to all this discussion, I would like to say one thing: responsibility lies with all of us. It is easy to blame governments (they do share the most part), and certainly deserve criticism. But responsibility does not end there. Parents, communities, philanthropists, teachers and citizens all shape the environment, in which children grow up.
Every time we ignore a child leaving school, we quietly accept a future with fewer opportunities. Not just for that child, but for the general cause.
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Peace 馃晩
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