How Education Makes People Easy To Lead But Difficult To Drive

Education makes the people easy to lead, but difficult to drive, easy to govern, but impossible to enslave,” said Lord Brougham. This is true, for without education man is a shade better than an animal. The word ‘education’ is derived from a Latin word meaning ‘to draw out. Thus it is the drawing out of the mental faculties of a person which is essential for leading a happy life. In its absence, people behave like a flock of sheep that can only be herded. As Epictetus said, ONLY THE EDUCATED ARE FREE. Education is the most powerful instrument that a man possesses. It is education that makes people easy to lead and govern, but difficult to drive and enslave. Education makes people aware of their rights and turns them into responsible citizens. An educated man is easy to lead, as he knows and understands the right path. It is, therefore, difficult to drive him into doing acts which he believes to be incorrect. Similarly, an educated man is easy to govern because he understands his rights and duties as a member of society. In addition to this, education promotes democratic values and educated people follow more rules and regulations as compared to uneducated people. Education also increases the socio-economic mobility of people, which in turn makes people easy to govern and difficult to exploit because educated societies keep a proper check on government through media and public forums. In the world, countries that have low literacy rates are facing dictatorships and totalitarianism because such nations cannot protect their rights. Similarly, education makes people cultured and civilized which are prerequisites for effective governance. It is education that gives confidence to a person to speak and face the world with bravery. However, unfortunately, Pakistan could not build a society that is easy to lead and govern. The education system of Pakistan has failed to bring meaningful change to its people. The irrelevant and outdated curriculum of Pakistan has failed to enhance the analytical and critical abilities of its citizens. Lack of employment opportunities owing to lack of skilled labor has badly affected the economy of Pakistan. The promotion of a particular extremist version of Islam has also made it difficult for Pakistan to govern its citizens effectively. However, if Pakistan wants to make a society that is easy to lead and govern it will have to take several steps which include the promotion of skilled education, removing gender and regional imbalance, adopting a uniform education, and improving its standard of education. If Pakistan takes these steps, it will be easy for Pakistan to govern and lead its population. Pakistan has the world's largest population of youth, therefore, it should take these steps to convert this liability of population into assets. Otherwise, it would be difficult for Pakistan to have a bright future and the people of Pakistan will suffer forever. Education of the masses is necessary to safeguard our independence, for it would enable the masses to exercise their franchise without fear or favor. This would indeed make them the master of their destiny. In short, it would make them civilized, cultured and good citizens of a proud country.