Children Are The Foundation Of A Nation’s Future
MESSAGE FROM GURUJI MARUTHAI RAVINDHIRAN
It gives me immense pleasure to send this message on this International Day of Education, to the readers, including young and old, of our esteemed “Education Times, Sunday Times, locally and globally”. First and foremost, I would like to wish a happy and joyous “International Education Day” to all students, Pedagogues, Educators, Teachers, Rectors, Reverend Fathers, Reverend Sisters and Chief Shepherds in Sri Lanka, India, and globally, with great joy, ebullience and enthusiasm.
DEFINITION OF CHILDREN
Children are the “foundation of a nation’s future, acting as the next generation of leaders, creators, innovators and caregivers.
DEFINITION OF EDUCATION
Education is the fundamental pillar of human development and societal progress, acting as the ultimate tool to break cycles of poverty, foster equality and drive economic growth. In the fast-evolving, technologically oriented and interconnected modern world, the need for quality education, defined as a combination of rigorous curriculum, effective teaching, and skill-based training, is more urgent than ever.
CORE COMPONENTS OF QUALITY EDUCATION
It is a prerequisite to have well qualified and well experienced pedagogues and educators focusing on “Child Centered Pedagogy, an internationally well accepted curriculum, vibrant, safe and inclusive environments and ample resources, seeking continuous support from the parents, continuous assessments of the child and inspiring the child to develop a keen interest to learn, grow, earn, flourish and contribute back to society.
However, the most vital aspect for the success in transforming a child into a miraculous student is the “astute, resolute and dynamic leadership and Gentle Shepherding care, which goes unnoticed in Sri Lanka and globally.
EFFECTIVE LEARNING
As educators, we need to focus on skill-building, knowledge retention, and lifelong learning and infrastructure and its development are of paramount importance to create a legacy. Since access is denied for many students in Sri Lanka,the government and the Prime Minister and the Minister of education may kindly consider in ensuring education is accessible regardless of gender, location, or socioeconomic status, particularly to the universities in Sri Lanka.
THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY EDUCATION
EMPOWERMENT AND INDIVIDUAL GROWTH
Education fosters self-awareness, confidence and emotional maturity, allowing individuals to navigate life’s challenges. It is the primary means for personal development and self-dependency.
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
Educated populations are the engine of a nation’s economy, fostering innovation, productivity, and entrepreneurship. Research indicates that an extra school year can increase an individual’s income by 10%, while higher education levels are directly linked to higher GDP growth.
SOCIAL STABILITY AND SAFETY
Education is a major factor in reducing crime, fostering civic responsibility and promoting peace. It helps citizens make informed, rational decisions rather than acting on misinformation.
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Educated individuals make better health, nutrition and lifestyle choices, leading to longer life expectancies. A child under five is twice as likely to survive if their mother can read and write.
THE NEED FOR PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION
While access to school is important, quality is what makes education effective. Without quality, enrolment does not translate to learning.
SHIFTING FROM MEMORISATION TO CRITICAL THINKING
Quality education emphasises understanding and applying knowledge, rather than just memorizing facts. It prepares learners to analyze, problem-solve and adapt to new, complex challenges.
INCLUSIVITY AND EQUITY
Quality education must be accessible to all, regardless of background, income, or gender, breaking down barriers and providing equal opportunities.
BRIDGING THE SKILLS GAP
Quality education aligns learning with the demands of the modern workforce, enhancing employability and fostering technological literacy.
FUTURE-READY SKILLS
It fosters resilience, creativity and emotional intelligence, the traits essential for future leaders, innovators and citizens.
CONSEQUENCES OF LACKING QUALITY EDUCATION
Without quality education, thousands of children face limited futures, falling into unemployment or, in some cases, crime. A lack of investment in education hampers economic progress and perpetuates poverty, with millions of children worldwide struggling with basic proficiency despite being in school.
For example, despite curriculum reforms and government evaluations, a significant number of students in Sri Lanka struggle with English language proficiency, as evidenced by high failure rates in the O/L English paper and in 2020, 34.22% of candidates (105,369 students) failed the O/L English exam. Hence, the Sri Lankan government may consider uplifting the standards of education, swiftly and should focus on a “ New Vision” in providing an “ Integrated Education to All Students in Sri Lanka and have a vision, mission and passion supported with reachable goals and objectives and endeavour to translate that vision into reality, within the next 5 to 7 years. When it comes to languages, including the English Language, the Government should consider making the teachers, students and relevant authorities competent and fluent in reading, writing, speaking, listening and comprehension, which is the need of the hour.
Achieving fluency requires a balanced approach to “input” (reading and listening) and output (speaking and writing) through consistent, daily practice.
CONCLUSION
Education is universally recognised as a foundational pillar for both personal empowerment and societal progress, catalysing growth, equality and innovation.
It goes beyond the mere acquisition of knowledge, acting as a transformative force that equips individuals with critical thinking, problem-solving skills and the capacity to navigate an increasingly complex world.
Education is not merely a preparation for life, but it is a vital, lifelong process that enables individuals to reach their full potential and drives the advancement of society as a whole.
Quality education is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. It is an investment that yields the highest return for individuals, communities and nations, catalysing a sustainable, just and prosperous future.
Investing in Children’s education, health and well being is essential for long term prosperity, as they possess the power to shape society, motherland and world and drive progress. As Pedagogues and Educators, let us strive laboriously to “build a better future”, for the younger generations, as I strongly feel that “Children are the Future of A Nation” and our Sri Lankan Students deserve only the best.
Guruji Maruthai Ravindhiran, has been a Pedagogue, Educator, Senior Advisor, Senior Lecturer and Chairman of Health Awareness Programmes, at a Religious School managed by a 150 year Religious Institute in Sri Lanka and the Former President of a renowned youth club, in Sri Lanka for three (3) consecutive years.
Ravindhiran functions as a “Communication and Language Specialist” (Tamil and English), with proficiency in Sinhala language and presently he is the Secretary, Media Advisor and Editor-in-Chief, of the Hall of Fame, Educational Institute, in Sri Lanka
He followed his Master in Business Administration (MBA) at the Post Graduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayawardenepura and Post Graduate Diploma in Gender and Health, at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
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