Is Education a Right or a Privilege?

By Lizza Masika Mulyangote. Lizza is 18 and is studying Business Administration at the University of Malaya-Wales. Please leave your comments below.

Education is everything needed to succeed.

In consonance with article 26 from The Declaration of Human Rights “everyone has the right to education”. However, not everyone has the money to fund an education and this is the main reason why education must be a right and easily accessible for those who might not be able to afford it.

Education is the process of acquiring knowledge and skills which are essential in our daily lives, and these can be attained in different ways. If education is so important that we require it in our daily lives, this simply means that it is a not a privilege but that it is a fundamental right that every human being needs in their lives in order to function, and therefore no one should be deprived of it.

Education must be a right for all because it develops confidence and helps in building the personality of someone, therefore no one should pay a penny for it because it plays a vital role in enabling people to participate in the society. Education has the power to change a person’s thought process from a negative to a positive cycle and it is also a tool of self-empowerment to an individual. That being the case, access to good education leads to the development of a generation. With the provision of education, individuals are able to develop socially, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. An educated society results mostly in good deeds, development and betterment of the nation.

Education has the ability to transform the society therefore educated people are the pillar of society. Education enables understanding, unity and tolerance towards people of different personalities, religions, races and castes. Because of education, different people of different races and religion are able to come together and share different ideas on the transformation of the society and education also enables friendships. Once people meet and share ideas, they grow mentally, they are able to come up with better problem-solving skills for whatever problem that is available.

The reason why some people demonstrate unacceptable or unethical behavior is because they lack education. When people are educated, they know how to control themselves in front of people, they are aware of their conduct. Education helps to develop good citizens in a society, therefore lack of education brings forth social problems such as crime. If people are educated, they will have the right skills that will help to provide them with jobs and enable them to do these jobs well. Poor healthcare (lack of hygiene) is another social problem. Educated people are aware of how they should take care of themselves so that their society is not affected by diseases and all other sicknesses. With education we can also eradicate poverty because poverty is a ramification of the lack of education. If social problems like this are dealt with by providing education, then the society will improve.

If you want to live an ecstatic, an independent and a stable life, the secret key to that is education. An educated person has the potential to acquire a job that will earn him or her a monthly income to sustain their family. Education has the ability to provide a good social reputation for one thus making education very fundamental.

In conclusion, an uneducated nation is as good as nothing.

 

49 comments on “Is Education a Right or a Privilege?

  1. Siphe on

    Wow im really impressed about what Lizza has shared, I wish everyone can have the opportunity for better education in life because in nowadays education is the best key to a bright future.

    Reply
  2. Brian on

    “Give a man fish and he’ll just consume it for that day then what. But teach a man how to fish he’ll have something to eat everyday.” You raised good valid points Lizz, with the right education anyone acquires the proper skills to provide for themselves and also sustain a society at large.

    Reply
  3. Fakudze Nikita on

    I feel this deeply because it’s not everyone who has the financial resources to acquire education like you said. Education being a right comes with so many fruits and is the answer to most of the issues society faces. This article is 👌👌 well done Lizz☺.

    Reply
  4. Louise Ferreira on

    your article made me feel so happy now, because I’m Brazil we are on a time that the government is not giving attention for a good public education for everyone, and the society is agreeing with it 💔 I’m glad that I know someone like you 💜

    Reply
  5. Tema on

    Education is a important for every individual ,thus making it a right. Even though we are living in a time where we are unemployed with our education but education has opened our eyes that it is not all about being employed but we can be self employed after being educated about the skill.

    Our African leaders has made education a previllage. The scarcity of scholarships has made most youth to not further their studies. It is a painful sight to see brains going down the drain just because education has been made a previllage more than a right.

    Reply
  6. APOSTLE Simphiwe on

    Education is one guaranteed future, if you have it you are safe from anything cause no one can ever take it away. So I believe everyone deserve a chance to be educated…. The high fees makes it a privilege yet it is a right for everyone.

    Reply
  7. Thandiswa Masentle Dlamini on

    I was consumed firstly by the use of literacy. And that would not have been possible without acquiring a certain level of education. Education May not necessarily be the key to success but it’s a fundamental basics to acquiring fortune and also sustaining it. Therefore Lizza your points are valid and true!

    Reply
  8. Neliso. Mazibuko on

    Wow…on point Lizza…we all deserve
    the equall opportunity in as far as Education is concerned…. regardless of social status!!!👌👌

    Reply
  9. Paluku Mulyangote on

    Bravo Lizza for that beautiful script. While I agree 100% with you that education should be accessible to all as a right, this needs mondialisation of the principle. An Asiatic, a black african, a black American….. should be given similar environments to achieve that goal. You are supposed to access equal education at any spot of the planet. When that lacks, then the concept privilege comes in.
    Also inclusion should be made of the 3 dimensions of a human being:
    1- Knowledge
    2- Practice your knowledge
    3- behaviour
    Congratulation once again for this dissertation.

    Reply
  10. Paluku Mulyangote on

    Bravo Lizza for that beautiful script. While I agree 100% with you that education should be accessible to all as a right, this needs mondialisation of the principle. An Asiatic, a black african, a black American….. should be given similar environments to achieve that goal. You are supposed to access equal education at any spot of the planet. When that lacks, then the concept privilege comes in.
    Also inclusion should be made of the 3 dimensions of a human being:
    1- Knowledge
    2- Practice your knowledge
    3- behaviour
    Congratulation once again for this dissertation.

    Reply
  11. Tawas on

    “Without Knowledge and wisdom my people perish.” Well documented script education should be a necessity and everyone should be allowed access to it

    Reply
  12. Nathan Mabiala on

    Very inspiring, education is indeed important to everyone is one of the keys to acquiring the greatest knowledge on this earth…

    Reply
  13. Patrick H on

    God has plan for you to prosper. Plans to give you hope. Ask God to align you in order for you to achieve your goals and your plans.

    Have agenda with God and God will have an Agenda with you amen

    Reply
  14. Vuli on

    True education is the key to the development of nations therefore it should be a right because development is mandatory for success!

    Reply
  15. Bathole on

    “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. -John Dewey” If to live is a right, then education is a right too. I couldn’t have agreed any more with you Lizza. Great script. And all the best.♥️

    Reply
  16. Alberto Betty on

    Before I would like to thank you for your wonderful idea. But for me education is a right of every human. Him self Jéhovah God have said or recommended us to learn about him and all his creation through the holy book ( Bible ) John17:3 / Matthew28:19-20 Is It clear that every must do all their best to give or provide a very good education to their children. Be smart and do your best, because knowledge is a power.

    Reply
  17. Alberto Betty on

    Before I would like to thank you for your wonderful idea. But for me education is a right of every human. Him self Jéhovah God have said or recommended us to learn about him and all his creation through the holy book ( Bible ) John17:3 / Matthew28:19-20 Is It clear that every parent must do all their best to give or provide a very good education to their children. Be smart and do your best, because knowledge is a power.

    Reply
  18. Tema Khumalo on

    This is so beautiful and powerful. You have spoken for those that do not have the voice to speak out on matters like this. Education is everything and everyone has to have the right to education.
    Absolutely amazing article sis!

    Reply
  19. Simo Mamba on

    Lizza, you have valid points there. The fact that I can read and understand what you wrote there and that we can interact with each other internationally is all a result of education. African governments must try to improve the system and keep it up to date.

    Reply
  20. Monique on

    Education in the African context before the advent of Whites was to enable one to function and fit well in the society not for money. In Africa it was free. I support that education is a right nor a privilege. However, it should be of the same standard within a country and equal access as well as equal opportunity.

    Reply

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