At times, university students might doubt the usefulness and relevance of higher education. They might feel more concerned towards their families and friends and relatives and would like to avoid pains of university education as it does demand hard work. They could be working and earning money instead of paying fees. Many more arguments can be discussed against higher education. However, the general opinion intuitively favors and values university education. But mere intuition can’t always keep you going. One can give the other following argument in defense of
University education:
I. Higher education opens up job opportunities and tends to raise the income level. Statistics show that the better educated a person is , the higher his income level happens to be. University degrees help employers get promotions faster than others. The same principle applies to nations. Better educated nations, though lacking in natural and other resources, are known to have shown rapid economic growth.
II. An education person is likely to be more aware of problems and challenges and know solutions. He tends to be more rational, tolerant, humble, open-minded and quick thinking and therefore, is better equipped to deal with conflicts and tensions. He has an ideal model of conduct in mind and can resolve difficulties in a rational manner.
III. Another practical advantage of knowledge is that it offers ways to enjoy good health. With all other things being equal, an education person’s health is bound to be better as he recognized the existence of disease and hazards of bad habits and polluted environment. Education also provides greater social mobility and freedom is it enables man to lead a meaningful life and be less vulnerable to stress-related disease.
IV. Exercise of mind is far more important than physical exercise because mind is the seat of thoughts and emotions. It is the most distinctly human portion of human existence. If mind is not kept exercised by education, it is bound to rust away like an unused iron tool and a body that grows clumsy without regular exercise.
V. Another advantage of education is that it is likely to ensure better social respect. An educated person enjoys higher social standing even without wealth whereas an ignorant man, lucky to possess other privileges, is bound to be considered deficient in some ways. Education makes one feel secure and increases one’s self-confidence.
VI. Education and training gives continuity to child-like inquisitiveness which vanishes in most people when they grow up. This curiosity of love of knowledge is blunted due to lack of proper education. And, if we are not curious or inquisitive, we are not so much human. Love of knowledge is a reward in itself. Learning should not be conditioned, as happens in many cultures, as to suit its needs. Education aims at giving joy and not at amassing wealth.
VII. University education offers you a society of scholar and provides a useful setting for satisfying our needs for companionship, personal growth and friendship.
VIII. Higher education helps learners break out of the man-made prison-walls of false religious beliefs and dogmas. Open-minded pursuit of knowledge enables us to get rid of the realm of indoctrination and false certitude considerably. In short it refines our innermost thoughts and desires towards liberalization and perfection.
