Education Helps Create A Promising And Prosperous Future

Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Education has long been the sure-shot path out of poverty. Around the world, education has been improving the lives of innumerable children and evolving the world for the better. According to the UN, education serves as a "passport to human development" on a global scale. That is why a nation's future must be secured by prioritizing children's education. But the unfortunate truth is that children from marginalized communities are deprived of this basic right. Since illiteracy tends to strip people, especially young girls, of their courage to speak up for themselves, education is their only chance at a better life.

Those who do not have access to quality education are also typically married young—often while still children—and forced into domestic chores. It is also to be noted that less than 3% of schools in India offer complete school education from Class 1 to Class 12 (UDISE 2016–17). To make matters worse, only 12% of schools in India are RTE-compliant (UDISE 2016–17).

All children deserve access to a high-quality education as it is an integral part of their wholesome development. But innumerable children continue to be in the shackles of poverty and illiteracy. Children should at the very least be able to read and write and eventually acquire the skills necessary to end generational illiteracy and the many forms of abuse that they are more prone to.

Education enables a child to acquire knowledge, inculcate new life skills, and develop a value system. A child needs to attend school in order to fully develop, which includes cognitive ability, critical thinking, emotional capabilities, and problem-solving skills. Even playtime at school with children of their age helps all students enhance their social skills. Beyond socioeconomic status or gender discrimination, every child must be able to complete their education.

This is where the Shiv Nadar Foundation’s initiative, VidyaGyan, is making a real difference in the world by focusing on creating a true rural urban transformation. With its futuristic education system, the program has nurtured its 1700+ alumni, all of whom are studying at prestigious undergraduate institutions around the world today. Founded in 2009, VidyaGyan runs two campuses in Uttar Pradesh that serve as a residential academy for 200 students from Grade VI to Grade XII, who are inducted into Grade VI every year. This leadership academy under the Shiv Nadar Foundation is paving the path for meritorious future leaders.

Ankit Adhikari works for VidyaGyan, India’s first rural leadership academy for meritorious students from the state of Uttar Pradesh.