Education is knowledge. Knowledge is power.

"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family." Kofi Annan

Education plays a major role in the growth and progress of both a society and the individual. “Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights,” is at the heart of UNESCO’s mission, and rightly so. By enriching people’s understanding of themselves and the world, education cannot fail to improve the quality of lives and afford benefits to society. Through the creation of resilient, curious, and imaginative people, education builds on itself; in turn creating a greater capacity to educate others and generally nurturing a culture that puts value on learning. Not only does it play a crucial role in securing social progress, but it leads to contributions in the fields of arts, literature, science and technology, establishing a well-rounded and stimulating community. Beyond this, it can encourage peace. Whilst so many world problems and disagreements have their basis on a lack of understanding, cultural knowledge can translate into greater empathy between nations and different so-called social strata, as well as aid in tackling discrimination and social exclusion of minorities and promoting human rights. And indeed there can be no doubt that education is the very soul of democracy. Evidence shows that citizens with a higher educational level tend to take a more active part in civil society in terms of collective decision making. Unquestionably, education plays a central role in democracy itself. Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle realised that if decisions are to be made by the masses, then having educated citizens is crucial. As Mary Marcy writes in the Liberal Education journal, democracy requires “individuals who are able to think, reason, analyse, and reflect with discrimination and care.” Likewise, democratic values like liberty, equality, justice and dignity must be applied to education to make it meaningful and useful. Opening doors to a better life, building confidence and breaking down barriers means education is the most empowering force in the world. As 16th-century philosopher Francis Bacon said, “Knowledge is power”. And never have truer words been spoken.