Define Education: Why Education Is Important To Society
Define Education: Why Education Is Important To Society
Define Education: Why Education Is Important To Society
Features of Education
Education empowers everyone. Some of the areas where education helps are:
1. Removing Poverty
Education helps in removing poverty as if a person is educated, he can get a good job and fulfill
all the basic needs & requirement of his family.
6. Women Empowerment
Education also helps in empowering women. Certain old customs like Not Remarrying Widows,
Sati Pratha, Child Marriage, Dowry System etc. can be demolished with the power of education.
Women, if educated, can raise voice against the injustice done to her. This will bring a lot of
development in society as well as in the nation. In short, Right to Freedom of speech &
expression can be used in the right way if all women will become educated.
8. Communications
The relation between education & communication is apparent. Good education helps to
communicate better with other people. It also improves our communication skills such as speech,
body language etc. A person who is educated feels confident within him to confront or give a
speech in front of a large public or can held a meeting or seminar.
Universities and college campuses are places where students live and study in close proximity to
each other. They are also buzzing cultural hubs where students are brought together from nations
around the world. Recently, the foundations of this unique ecosystem have been impacted
significantly by the rapid spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Over the past weeks,
education officials have been forced to cancel classes and close the doors to campuses across the
world in response to the growing coronavirus outbreak. In addition, US institutions have
switched classes to online learning, cancelled spring break trips and students studying abroad in
China, Italy and South Korea have been encouraged to return home to complete their studies.
While class closures, dips in enrollment at the beginning of a new semester and cancellations
may be temporary,
One of the biggest concerns for the sector at large is the percentage of international students that
make up the domestic higher education markets. In the US alone, Chinese students make up 33.7
per cent of the foreign student population, while Indian students comprise of 18.4 per cent.
While travel restrictions to and from China have been helpful in slowing down the spread of the
disease, they have also left international students stranded. According to a Covid-19 Survey by
the Institute of International Education (IIE), 830 Chinese students have been unable to return to
the US to continue their studies. While this may be a small percentage of the overall international
student population, the question remains: How long will this last? If the restrictions remain in
place, the US higher education system could bear the brunt of an economic downturn. So, how
should universities and colleges around the world adjust their learning styles to retain program
enrollment and provide accessibility to students?
The most effective tool in keeping student retention and maintaining access to learning has been
online courses. Universities across the US, in particular, have adjusted their programs in
response to the spread of the coronavirus.
Stanford University has called off the remaining two weeks of in-class lectures, urging its
professors to move any remaining lessons online. The University of Washington announced
a ban on on-campus classes until after spring break, after a member of staff was diagnosed with
coronavirus last week. Other universities, including New York’s Hofstra University, New
Jersey’s Princeton University and Seattle University are making starting to make the move to
virtual classes.
One such university that is currently undertaking these measures is the University of Southern
California, which is testing its online platforms to ensure its technology can handle its 7,000 plus
lectures.
With online learning the way to go, universities should also ensure students and staff are
protected while on campus.
While Covid-19 is a high risk for those over 60, traditional-aged university students face
relatively low risks from the disease. However in recent weeks, we have seen just how quickly
the novel coronavirus can spread in areas with a high concentration of people – and university
campuses are no exception.
Administrators should undertake simple measures to prevent the spread of the disease on their
campuses. This should include instructing students on the appropriate protocols for hand
washing, covering sneezes and coughs with their elbows, and self isolating if they are
experiencing flu or cold-like symptoms.
Educators should also be aware of students who have travelled extensively during the spring
break, and remind those who have been abroad in heavily affected places to be mindful about
returning to campus.
Universities and colleges yet to implement changes to campuses in response to the novel
coronavirus should take cues from others who have already taken action. They should analyse
the steps already taken by other educators to understand what has worked, what hasn’t worked
and how to tackle the challenges they may face. With the spread of the disease expected to
worsen before it gets better, administrators should take quick action to safeguard their campuses
and students in preparation for potential closures.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. The higher education sector has withstood turbulent economic
times in the past, and it will withstand them again. In a digital age, universities and colleges are
better placed today more than ever to provide students with easy access to continue their studies
online.