Education as Part of Nation-Building

Since we were childhood, from generation to generation, it has being heard about the word ‘Education’. Our parents told us ‘education’, our teachers told us about it, our sisters and brothers have explained it. So we as people have being familiar with the word “EDUCATION’.

But if we think about the ‘education’ deeply, it is crucial to the wellbeing of everyone. If we consider about ‘education’, we generally immediately highlight ‘university’. Yes, ‘university’ is a place where everyone can learn people skills, technological skills, and other knowledge to support oneself. University is one of the important places where well-educated and well-rounded talents are born. These well-educated and well-rounded generations are the most important human resource to support economic, social, political developments for future generations.

For instance, engineering graduates can support science, technology, and innovation to our country. They can support toward a modernized country – better roads, infrastructures and IT system.
As business graduates, it can support to promote international trade. Medical graduates are able to support health care and healthy long-living of its citizens. Political science, public policy and administration graduates will support for developing efficient and effective government system, rules and regulations, laws and nation building. Hence, ‘education’ is the most important pillar in seeking our citizens’ aspirations – toward a modernized country.

Thus we can understand the word ‘education’ that is important not only for oneself but for every country. We can define “a country” is a place where millions of individuals are living together under the integrated established political, legal, educational, cultural and social systems.

Building a nation is the building of different sectors of its components. These components are the arts, child policy, civil justice, education, energy and environment, health and health care, international affairs, national security, population and aging, public safety, science and technology, substance abuse, terrorism and homeland security, transportation infrastructure, workforce and workplace.

‘Education’ is one component of the nation building priorities that must be integrated into the national system. Let consider about Singapore that is a country where no abundant resources. But today, this country is one of the world’s well-developed, higher living standard and secure place. If we study about Singapore, from the early stage till now, ‘education’ is one of its top national priorities to become the well-known and well-developed country. It has being invested in education to develop skills, knowledge and IT. Well-skilled, well-trained and well-rounded knowledge human resources are the keys to Singapore to become one the best place to invest for international investors. Hence, we will be able to understand the importance of education as the part of the nation building with the following key notes:

“Education is one of our top national priorities. Education is not just for the most precious gift to our children, but also the most critical investment for our future and the most effective success strategy to endure and thrive in a changing world.”

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Teachers’ Day Rally 2006.

“In the 21st century, the best anti-poverty program around is a world-class education.”

President Obama
Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address, U.S.Capitol, 2010

If we sum up about these findings, ‘EDUCATION’ (a well-integrated education system and policy are the important tools in marching toward a modernized country that our citizens have being hoped and dreamt over long decades.

P.Latt
19.04.2010