Argument for and Against Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Argument for and Against Education - Essay Example Such oppositions of education are because of the numerous ineffective educational institutions existing today. These educational institutions have compromised the quality of education and have only opened people’s eyes, but completely closed their minds. This is a worrying situation, as today’s education systems have not achieved their full potential of empowering people’s mind and soul. Our education systems therefore play an important role in hindering the purpose of education today. Nonetheless, education is the main factor that encompassing our lives today. It is instrumental in the stimulation of the human mind, as well as turning inquisitive minds into intellectuals. Institutions of higher learning advance the intellect to a higher level, providing them a deeper understanding of the world around us. The benefits of education are all encompassing, including intellectual, social, and emotional benefits. However, Veblen (1957, p.139) argues that in the busines s world, there is no need for education, basing on confessions of prominent business people, who regarded higher learning as a hindrance, which does not help anyone with successful business aspirations. To him, the money culture, and customer-oriented pervasions of education values have commodified education, measuring its worth by monetary units. This reduces education to nothing, and prevents students and teachers from pursuing knowledge freely, as they only pursue academic credits. Commodification of education in the institutions of higher learning today is an issue that has portrayed education in a negative life. This is what makes most people argue against education today. In today’s age of financial greed, many institutions of higher learning... This essay stresses that our present society has evolved into the culture of materialism and the love for money. This culture has found its way into the learning institutions, thereby causing the commodification of education and the commercialization of researches, thus compromising the quality of education in these institutions. This unfortunate situation in our higher learning institutions is not reason enough to disregard education. This paper makes a conclusion that the role of education and its numerous social and economic benefits in society cannot be denied. Education is a known means to poverty eradication and development. Today’s technological advances and economic development are a result of education. Education remains the only basis for future development. Education programs therefore need to be fully funded, as this is a worthy investment for any country. Redefinition of education to capture its original purpose is necessary today. Governments should be devoted to providing support systems for revamping of their education systems. We need to take our educational systems to their old days, when they upheld values and served their function. This way, the function and quality of education today will be enhanced. However, this should be a collective role for both government and the public. The public should know the requirements of education, and not allow these to be violated by politicians or the media.