Online Reporter
Flora Teckie
Bahá’í Perspective
On Monday the world observed International Literacy Day.
Therefore, it is timely to reflect on the benefits of education for individuals, as well as the communities they live in.
All humans are created with great potential and capacities.
Access to knowledge is vital to the development of one’s God-given potential. As Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, says: “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom”.
Sadly, millions of people globally are deprived of developing their inherent potential, due to lack of access to education. According to UNESCO Institute of Statistics, despite great progress made in literacy worldwide, at least 754 million adults still cannot read and write, two thirds of them being women, while 250 million children are failing to acquire basic literacy skills.
Universal education is key to the development of individuals and the advancement of society, and must be made a priority.
According to the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith: “The cause of universal education … deserves the utmost support that the governments of the world can lend it.
“For ignorance is indisputably the principal reason for the decline and fall of peoples and the perpetuation of prejudice. No nation can achieve success unless education is accorded all its citizens”.
Educating women and girls
The education and empowerment of women and girls, in the Bahá’í view, is in the best interests of our families and our communities. However, according to UNESCO, globally 500 million women have no access to education.
The Universal House of Justice says, “The decision-making agencies involved would do well to consider giving first priority to the education of women and girls, since it is through educated mothers that the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively and rapidly diffused throughout society”.
In addition to educating women and girls for the role of motherhood, their education and training is necessary for the well-being and advancement of our communities and nations. Without the qualities, talents, and skills of both women and men, full social and economic development of the planet will not be possible.
The Bahá’í International Community states that, “Girls will not only render service to humanity as mothers and first educators of the next generation, but, as women, they will make special contributions to the creation of a just world order — an order characterised by vigour, cooperation, harmony, and a degree of compassion never before witnessed in history”.
Education must be relevant to true needs of a community
It is not enough to have access to knowledge. Education must be relevant to the true needs of a community, and contribute to the unification of humanity.
There is a need to generate in learners a vision of the kind of society they wish to live in – a peaceful society, one in which empowerment and development for all members of human family are ensured.
The Bahá’í Writings state: “This education … in order to be adequate and fruitful should be comprehensive in nature and should take into consideration not only the physical and the intellectual side of man but also his spiritual and ethical aspects”.
It should cultivate behaviours characterised by decency, integrity of conduct, trustworthiness, and freedom from prejudice.
Such an education would empower individuals to become agents of constructive social change through a virtuous life, and by promoting unity and peace in their communities.
Service to humanity, including to one’s family, neighbours, community, and nation, should be considered an essential component of education. There should be practical means for its expression in the education process through service-oriented programmes.
“True education,” in the Bahá’í view, “releases capacities, develops analytical abilities, confidence, will, and goal-setting competencies, and instils the vision that will enable … (individuals) to become self-motivating change agents, serving the best interests of the community”.
An important element of serving humanity is promoting peace and unity at a global level.
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