Ensure that the whole person is educated.
Introduction
It is Education week in the Turks and Caicos Islands and so I am writing an article about Education. Education matters and it could be a means to your destination. It is not too early or too late to learn. You do not necessarily have to physically attend an educational institution to learn, for you can learn on the job and you can learn online. However, whatever you do, ensure you can educate the whole person. Educating the whole person is more than learning about academics, it is about your spiritual wellbeing, your emotions, your health, your safety and social and economic environment. This is one of the main reasons why I love the US colleges and Universities because you are not just learning your area of study, but you are required to enroll in a variety of other subjects. I remembered when I was in College, I had to take extracurricular activities and I did music and swimming. I also had to do several English classes. At that time, I did not understand the person but when I began to work, I had a lot of writing and talking and so I was grateful for the classes. I also had to take a Religious Education class. All of this is educating the whole person which makes you a well-rounded person.
Your spiritual wellbeing
Your spiritual wellbeing should be the foundation of your education. If you do not have that foundation, it can impact your entire life. You see when you are face with issues whether in school or in the workplace, that spiritual foundation will be able to guide through these issues. Therefore, never forget God. Ensure that the Bible is taught in school and at home for your spiritual wellbeing will also help you with your emotions.
Your health
I think it is critical for health awareness to be a part of our education. Too many people are faced with illnesses and diseases and one of the primary causes of this is our diet. Therefore, if we can ensure that health is a major component of our education, you may just end up saving not only your lives but others as well.
Sports
There is a lot of focus on academics in school, but we must find a balance. It is important to have sports as a main part of the curriculum. In fact, some of these students may end up one day become professional sportspersons. Furthermore, sports help you to maintain a good health.
Financial literacy
One of the greatest issues we have in our lives is the lack of financial literacy. I had the opportunity to speak with Grade 4 at the Enid Capron Primary School during the week. I personally this should be part of the curriculum. At some point in our lives, we will have to deal with money and it is best to start training from young. If some of us knew what we knew now, many of us would have been well off financially.
The environment
It is important to learn about preservation of the environment. There is so much issue with global warming today due to the misuse of the environment. We need to teach the young and the old about the importance of the environment.
Many time we focused a lot on the theory and some students cannot comprehend the theory. Therefore, experiential learning is the way to go. Experiential learning is a process of learning whereby students are introduced to the subjects in real life scenarios and they not only observe the areas of the subjects but they also gain experience and an understanding by a hands on approach.
Technical and vocational training
Conclusion
I think we can conclude that Education matters and it is more than certificate or a degree. It is about equipping yourself with valuable practical information to make important everyday life decisions. With that said, let me say a big thank you to the educators for making a difference in the lives of all of us.