Education can Change the World

Proferring definitions are difficult because terms have multiple meanings and are hard to articulate. Thus single definitions would not be all encompassing but misleading. However, explanations within the context would be more expedient. Education springs from the Latin word ‘Educatio’ which translates to English words such as train, erect, breed or take out. ‘Most powerful’ hints certitude in a state of superior effectiveness. ‘Weapon’ may pass for either an instrument in hand or one within reach. ‘Use’ denotes application. ‘Change’ translates to either a slight alteration or complete transformation in the state of affairs of a particular concern. ‘The world’, I dare to say, is space, humanity, environment and time within a definite chronological and geographic confine. In this light, all is fused and explained as ‘training can hit the world so hard, it can transform space, humanity, environment and time’.

The world has been hit one time too many in the course of history. These hits have been occasioned by servitude, natural disasters, world wars, revolutions, the holocaust, gay movements, technology, terrorism, social networks...the list is endless. These invasions by factors (however not external) have weathered and brought the world to where it is today. This is more so the case as it has set the world on the journey beyond the designation of day, night and seasons- The destination of a higher rationality, a more worthwhile existence. It has led the world to the practice and search for consciousness, enlightenment and freedom. Invariably, all three concerns put together are very nature of education. In the light of this, education beams as the most formidable of the actors, factors, objects, goals and weapons capable of changing the world.

The alteration or transformation of the world through the leadership or training of human minds and trust has stood its ground in the past as it is doing today. However, the measure of good or bad that shall result for such transformation would be a reflection of ‘who’ or ‘what’ controls the process. Thus giving light to the words of Mahatma Gandhi ‘Non violence (vice or virtue) is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being.’ The mind, the human seat of consciousness is the target.  On December 25, 2009, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab stood as the Nigerian proof that the human is capable of defending that which is ‘good’ as he has been taught to believe and love.

John Dewey opined that ‘...education is life itself’; scepticism is ‘the mark and even the pose of an educated mind’. Nigeria needs to fearlessly rise above our cliché system by capturing and training Nigerian minds with the expedient methods- an X mind matching an X method, alongside a revolutionary impartation with the more expedient versions of truths, facts, visions, goals, laws, policies, rights and duties, and thus wield this weapon.