Abdul Ali Faiq
Education care, Value, Facility, and Improvement.
By: Abdul
Ali Faiq
Education is the most important issue in our common life. Without education life will never be life, and humanity will be under great risk of darkness, and there will never be any difference between animal kingdom and mankind! Our ancestor, philosophers, educationist, acadimists, professors, and scientists paid a great deal of attention in education areas.
That is very helpful of them! In the initiation of the history of humanity, houses were the only means of education. The preliminary tribe had individually the mission of educating the children physically, intellectually, and ethically, by arranging the means of the life preparations. This continued until the opening of the ancient ages. The Roman families, in their oldest ages, had full and exclusive supervision on bringing up and educating their children in the various aspects according to distinctive systems that were independent from any public authority. Education was one of the responsibilities of houses. Such educational efforts were confused with other indifferent activities to the degree that education was seen as an unintentional process. Afterward, houses began to look upon the educational affairs intentionally. After the invention of writing. Education depended upon the familiarity with the experts of the previous generations, thanks to the recordings of the explored facts. This added a new household job, which is teaching in the meaning of private tutorials. Interestingly, the value, and price of education is increasing surprisingly, and our world is being changed from hell to paradise, economically, scientifically, socially, technically and educationally…
How can we as
Afghan society develop our educational system as other nation did?
I think personally, it is
extremely harsh, complicated and difficult to organize our educational system in
current situation of corruption and nepotism .But we believe it is not
impossible, and we need time and patients in the same time. As we aware that,
our exhausted country had been seen a huge amount of nightmares and difficulties
during 3decades of war and instabilities. First of all, we must re-build our
minds before re-building our educational system as Japanese people did. And, we
must make education system obligatory and compulsory to every individual across
the Afghan society! If we follow the Japanese way of education as an Asian
continent it will be closer and more affective to our society. And see how they
developed their educational system from scratch and made their people one of the
best nation on the face of the earth....! Japan has one of the highest standards
of education and one of the highest literacy rates in the world. About 93% of
children enter high school, and nearly all of them graduate. At over 40% in
2000, Japan also has one of the highest university enrolment rates in the
developed world, and a huge number of state and private universities to serve
the population. See how they start their journey in education field and how they
complete it, and how they achieved their goals?
The task of enforcing the Education System Order fell upon Tanaka Fujimaro and
David Murray both of whom have come to occupy important places in the history of
modern Japanese education. It was through their efforts that Japanese education
began to move forward.
Tanaka Fujimaro entered the new government after the Meiji Restoration, and in
December, 1871, he joined the Iwakura Mission to Europe and the United States as
one of the secretaries. Before returning to Japan in March, 1873, he toured a
number of countries, and always his chief concern was the investigation of
educational conditions. From this experience he compiled a report known as the
Riji Kotei, which was a detailed account of the educational systems and
practices in Western countries, and presented this to the government. It
included factual accounts of school organizations in the United States, England,
France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark and Russia.
After Oki Takato left the Secretary ship of the Department of Education in
April, 1873, to become a Councilor, Tanaka assumed most of the Secretary’s
functions at the Department.
Prior to his arrival in Japan, David Murray had assisted Japanese students who
visited the United States through the arrangement of Guido F. Verbeck
(1830-1897). As a result of this experience Murray apparently developed a strong
interest in the problems of Japanese education.
Mori Arinori, who at the time was serving as a diplomat in the United States,
had solicited the opinions of those American intellectuals interested in
Japanese education and included their responses in his work, Education in Japan,
published in New York in 1873. Murray’s views were also included in the book in
which he insisted that the prime duty of the statesman was to promote the
education of his people. On the subject of educational reform, he supported a
system based upon the traditions and spirit of the people. He further felt that,
with the objective of education for the general populace, everyone should have
at least an elementary education and that no distinction should be made between
schooling for boys as opposed to that provided for girls. It was his deep
concern for and his goodwill toward Japan that led to his being called unto the
service of Japan.
Following his arrival in Japan in June, 1873, Murray first participated in
educational administration as an adviser to the Department of Education and was
appointed Superintendent in October of the following year. Murray’s widow
indicates in her in Memoriam of 1915 that Murray was deeply honored by the trust
and the goodwill extended him by the people of Japan, and in order to express
his appreciation, he devoted all his efforts to the task assigned him.
In December, 1873, he presented his first Superintendent’s Report to the
Department in which he outlined his views on the reform of education. In
February, 1875, he presented his second Report on his tour of inspection of the
educational facilities in outlying areas. It is from these documents that we can
come to know his views. For the sake of the country he argued against the
tendency of certain politicians to push through radical reforms and rather
advised a gradual process of change based on the actual conditions in Japan
while giving due recognition to the merits and the heritage of the nation.
As 1876 corresponded to the one hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence of the United States, a centennial exposition was opened at
Philadelphia to commemorate the occasion. Japan was invited to provide an
exhibit, and among the various items Deputy Secretary of Education Tanaka
Fujimaro decided to include in the material relating to Japanese education was
An Outline History of Japanese Education (Nihon Kyoikushi Ryaku). This history
was intended to introduce Japanese achievements in that field to the world at
large and it was completed under the guidance of David Murray. In connection
with this exhibition Tanaka and four other officials left for a tour of
inspection of the United States; Murray accompanied the group to the exposition
and later presented a report on his observations of the educational display to
the authorities back in Japan.
Tanaka Fujimaro made use of this opportunity to investigate the various types of
educational administration in different states of the Union and upon his return
to Japan, he translated certain educational regulations of several states and
had they published by the Department of Education. He believed the American
system of educational administration to be well suited to the needs of Japan.
Tanaka’s experience in America helped him to detect shortcomings in the
Education System Order and he made special reference to the system practiced in
the United States when drafting a new educational order and proposing changes in
the Japanese system. In 1877 Murray drafted a proposal for a new educational
system known as A Superintendent’s Draft Revision of the Japanese Code of
Education (Gakkan Koan Nihon Kyoikuho), which he presented to Tanaka in June for
use as reference. An explanatory note was attached to the document, which
clarified the aims of the reform and other important points. In December, 1878,
Murray’s tenure came to an end and he left Japan in January of the following
year for home.
The current Japanese education system was established during the Allied occupation of Japan after World War II. Compulsory education begins at age 6 and lasts nine years, encompassing the 6 years of elementary and 3 years of lower secondary school education. It is characterized by a high degree of uniformity and equality of opportunity. National curriculum standards are specified by the Ministry of Education, and all textbooks must be approved by the central government. Generally, students throughout the country at the same grade level study the same material at the same time and place.
During the compulsory school years, no distinctions are made between students on
the basis of ability or achievement. There are no separate tracks, ability
groupings, remedial programs, or student electives. Promotion to the next grade
level is virtually automatic as long as the student attends classes.
Examinations are the foundation of the Japanese education system. Both high
school and university admissions are determined by highly competitive
examinations open to all applicants nationwide. University entrance examinations
are famously rigorous, and performance on them has a heavy impact on future
social and economic status. In preparation for examinations, many students
undertake remedial education or special examination preparation assistance in
private education programs, or “cram schools” (juku). Failure to pass a
university exam leads some Japanese students to spend a year or more as ronin,
or “masterless samurai,” during which time they do little but prepare for the
following year’s examination.
Student participation rates are high and dropout rates low at all levels of
education. Almost all--more than 99% of Japanese children of compulsory school
age are enrolled in school. Beyond compulsory education, more than 94% of
students go on to full-time study and another 2% continue part-time. Japan
enjoys 99% adult literacy and secondary school Japanese students have been among
those who have scored highest on international aptitude tests. Eventually the
history of education was chanced by the struggle and effort of Tanaka Fujimaro
and David Murray! This is a shiny and documentary example that our responsible
in current government must hold the opportunity and improve the education system
as Japanese expert did..!
The principle and practice of compulsion in education
The entire nation across the world decided to make the educational system
globally compulsory and obligatory to reach their aims and goals so quickly. The
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides the political and moral
support for the use of compulsion in education. Article 26 states that:
‘Elementary education shall be compulsory.’ Furthermore in April 2000, 1,100
delegates from 164 countries reaffirmed their commitment to Education for All at
the World Education Forum in Dakar, by adopting the Dakar Framework for Action –
including the ambitious goal of: ‘free and compulsory education of good quality
for all by 2015.’ Therefore to the majority of public policy makers the
principle and practice of compulsion is firmly established as a fundamental
human right and widely recognized as an essential element of a world class
education system. According to UNESCO, writing in 1951, ‘the principle of
universal compulsory education is no longer questioned’, and some now view it as
one of civilizations greatest achievements:
The practice of compulsory schooling is animated and sustained by an almost
universal prevailing public consensus that the practice is in the child’s
interest…Indeed in so far as it confers a right to education as well as an
obligation to make use of it, the law making education compulsory could be said
to be one of the achievements of civilization…After all disagreement is common
about such issues a capital punishment, the right to carry firearms, divorce,
abortion, etc., but not regarding compulsory education .Compulsory education is
very significant and important to Afghan society otherwise we will lose the next
generation as well. Encouragement and compulsion are the two vital elements can
be extremely affective and advantage for our new generation to bring them to the
road of succession and prosperity…
The necessity of education
Education is extremely essential and precious in our modern life, and plays an
important role in our daily bases. Education is a backbone for a nation and
society. Education is a life necessity and a genuine human concern through which
mental and social constituents are attained. It is surely man’s distinctive
feature. As well as societies, education is necessary for individuals. An
educationist says, “For individuals, education is a process of social
normalization that gives the character of humanity, which is the distinctive
feature. Everybody knows that individuals inherit their biological roots, such
as colors of eyes, hair, tallness, and the other physical features, from their
fathers and forefathers. The mental and social constituents of personalities are
gained only through education. On that account, the basic chore of education
helps in acquiring the human features. Hence, education is necessary for
individuals and societies in an equal degree.” Education is the one and only
means of achieving maturity, and raising the individual and social levels;
therefore, it is a binding necessity of life and significant.
How much our
Religion encourages us to improve our education?
This is very obvious and natural that, Islam constantly encourages, mankind to
educate him or herself as much as they can. An educated individual has a high
poison in the (Islamic society) rather than an illiterate one. To seek knowledge
is a sacred duty; it is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female. The first
word revealed of the Qur’an was “Iqra” READ! Seek knowledge! Educate yourselves!
Be educated. “...Those truly fear God, among His Servants, who have knowledge:
for God is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving. (The Noble Quran, 35:28)”
Surah Al-Zumr, ayah 9 reveals: “Are those equal, those who know and those who do
not know?” Surah Al-Baqarah, ayah 269 reveals: “Allah grants wisdom to whom He
pleases and to whom wisdom is granted indeed he receives an overflowing
benefit.”
With the shining of the illumination of Islam, a great change occurred in all of
the aspects of life, including education. Islam paid the greatest attention to
education. Muslims have been encouraged on learning so that they would review
the references of knowledge and culture for improving their lives and raising
their levels. Allah SWT mentioned in many verses of Quran the importance of
education facilities .For instance in (Sura 68 Al-Qalam) Allah says: By the pen
and by what they (the angels) write (in records of men). Islam is basically a
fountain of education itself. The existence of our life has a great meaning and
value, eternally and externally socially and educationally spiritually and
physically therefore our Allah SWT says:
‘I am about to place a viceroy in the earth’
Constantly, this vicegerent should inhabit this earth and make life prosperous, and utilize the treasures Allah has lodged in it for the benefit of mankind. Allah says in a relevant verse ‘He has brought you forth from the earth and has settled you therein’
This means Allah has made any human being able to live on earth and endowed him with the power to invest and utilize its resource and inhabit it for the welfare of his life on earth and in the Hereafter. Consequently, we could say that it is a legal obligation, to deal with the earth and even with the whole universe, utilizing modern scientific discoveries and new (legal) inventions. It is also one of the main objectives of Islam Methodology, to make use of modern science, delve deeper into its facts, and subject it for the benefit of our worldly life and Hereafter. Allah (S.W.T) has made this obligatory on Muslims. They should not keep on being undeveloped concerning modern science whereas are constantly advancing.
Allah (S.W.T) has created people, different in race, color and tongue. They are subdivided into nations, tribes, parities, ethnic groups, clans and sibs. They are all created from the same origin, one male and one female (Adam and Eve). It is expected that the values of friendship, mercy, sympathy, cooperation, giving support to each other, and getting to know one another prevail among them in view of their being brothers and sisters in humanity. It is not expected then, that values like dispute, division, controversy and hostility prevail among them. Aren’t they the sons and daughters of man and one woman?
Their belief in Allah and accepting Islam as their religion and way of life, should promote their cooperation and exhorting one another to truth and endurance. Consequently, this strengthens their relations, which would result in their solidarity. This is one of the most important objectives to Tarbiyah in Islam. The individual is prepared to live in harmony and agreement with his brother [in humanity] after they are united in their belief following the same way and system, which is the way of all human family across the world.
So how come some
extremists Muslim ban women from education?
Honestly, we have seen hell on our life time under regime of Taliban! The worst
barbaric and savage regime in human history as we believe! They misguided,
tortured, murdered, killed, abused, and pissed off women genders in the name of
Islam and religion of Islam, which Islam is entirely and completely against the
actions which Taliban performed in their period! The below author explained very
grammatically, fantastically and accurately women condition under power of
Taliban in Afghanistan and Allah Bless him dearly...How beautifully he descried
the regime!
Please know that the only country or group of Muslim extremists that ban women
from education are the “Taliban” group in Afghanistan. The rest of the 1.4
Billion Muslim populations don’t have any laws that prohibit women to be
educated or seek the highest academic degrees they desire. Saudi Arabia is a
country, however, that bans women from driving cars. Again, I don’t really know
where they are getting this rubbish from. Certainly cars didn’t exist 1400
years ago. So all of these verdicts that you see today in Afghanistan and Saudi
Arabia from banning women to be educated and from driving cars are TODAY’S
AUTHORITIES VERDICTS.
I never really understood the Saudi’s point, and I guess I never probably will,
because Khadijah, Prophet Muhammad’s first wife, was a business woman. Also,
Aisha, one of Prophet Muhammad’s wives, not only narrated so many of his
Sayings, and taught so many Muslims many laws about Islam during his life and
after his death, but believe it or not, she actually led an army of 60,000
Muslim men after our Prophet peace be upon him died. That battle was called the
“Battle of Camel”. It is a very popular battle. Every Muslim knows it.
She actually used to travel on her camel and bargain with men and make deals
with them!
The problem with the Taliban of Afghanistan, however, is that most of their top
leaders are illiterate. They literally don’t know how to read and write. The
“Mullah Omar” their highest leader is one live example. As we saw in the first
section of this article, those who lack education have a problem appreciating
GOD Almighty. They are not preferred in Islam, and they could cause a lot of
trouble.
I wouldn’t expect any good leadership from a leadership such as the Taliban in
Afghanistan. So, when they give verdicts against women’s education, they are
really coming up with their own false interpretations, that to them, seem to be
the perfect rules.
Also, the Taliban gave verdicts that all Shia Muslims are infidels, and
therefore it is ok to kill any of them. Their followers, who are mostly
uneducated, blindly and ridiculously follow their leaders’ twisting of Allah
Almighty’s Commands:
“O ye who believe! Obey
God, and obey the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you. If ye
differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Apostle, if ye do
believe in God and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final
determination. (The Noble Quran, 4:59)”
So to them, since the Taliban is the “authority”, then they should blindly
follow them. They and their leaders, however, obviously lack a great deal of
knowledge about Islam, because Noble Verse 4:59 is talking about obeying the
people with authority ONLY in what is Islamic. This was clearly defined by our
Prophet peace be upon him: ‘Abdullah: “The Prophet said, ‘A Muslim has to listen
to and obey (the order of his ruler) whether he likes it or not, as long as his
orders involve not one in disobedience (to Allah), but if an act of disobedience
(to Allah) is imposed one should not listen to it or obey it. (Translation of
Sahih Bukhari, Judgments (Ahkaam Narrated), Volume 9, Book 89, Number 258)”
History had repeated itself in Afghanistan. 1400 years ago we had so many civil
wars because of not so knowledgable leaders about the Islamic laws took power.
It’s easy to give a verdict. But a leader in Islam is going to be held very
dearly responsible for such verdict, especially if he caused the death of many
innocent lives!
How much
problematic our educational system has?
Basically, it is extremely hard to find a suitable and profitable institutional
education platform across the Afghan society; additional to this misery it is
almost impossible to find a sufficient amount of equipments and facilities
inside this institutional education! The 25constant war washes out the meaning
and beauty of education from our society. This is not only a sickness to Afghan
people, but this a risky epidemic to the global communities as well !The
negative of uneducated society impact gradually and dramatically to other
communities and destroy them as well ,this is why the international community
should be very effectual and practical towards uneducated societies wherever it
will situated .At this period of time Afghan society strongly need as many
institutional places as possible specially our new generation need desperately
universities, colleges, schools, training places, education facilities, high
profile technology equipments, internet access, a peaceful atmosphere place for
public readers, libraries, museum, scholarship, places for kids, a suitable
places for female gender across Afghanistan. These are very primary but
necessary things which our society needs it urgently and swiftly! If the
international community wants to live in peace, harmony and prosperity they must
act as quickly as they can. Taking the chance and providing these basic and
vital ammunitions to our people and make them busy to education activity
otherwise the international societies will face uncountable challenges in near
future!
As we know that, Afghanistan has almost the lowest and powerless educational system across the world! In fact, the 3 decades of permanent war and hostility was keenly impact to the total country, for instance Kabul as a platform and centre of educational system completely damaged. The facilities were stolen, and the building was burnt and the book was destroyed directly and indirectly. Subsequently the education was banded by Barbaric Regime of Taliban in side the country and replaced to the militarily camps!! Our community is extremely ambitious as much as other nations. I think the best interested things in our society are pens ,books, encyclopedias, libraries and educational equipments specially to youth and children generation classes, it means magnificently that our people have a huge amount of aspiration and desire, but unfortunately these hopes and desires has been destroyed by several decades of war and hostility! The people as I mentioned already were surrounded by the atmosphere of conflict, illiteracy and none-stabilization! The blame goes directly to our gloomy, dark and careless historical regime that did not pay any attention to educational system!! What a pity??!!
Conclusion:
This is our clear message, simultaneously it is our duty and obligation to spread out our glories message to our human friends across the universe to realize and understand the difficulties which our people faced more than 3decades. Terrorist only can hide themselves in undedicated society unstable environment and unlawful government! That is very clear to every one therefore, we need the attention of international community more than anyone else to pay a great deal of attention, practical step and effectual action as swiftly as they can! The achievement of today depends on our future! If the world do well today, and they will see it better tomorrow. And they will permanently live in real peace, and prosperity! This is for sure…
References:
Fact sheet released by the Bureau of East
Asian and Pacific Affairs,
U.S. Department of State, and July 31, 1997. (1)
http://educationjapan.org/jguide/education_system.html
(3)
http://wwwwp.mext.go.jp/hakusyo/book/hpbz198103/hpbz198103_2_032.html9 (3)
Methodology of Education/Dr.Ali Abdel-Haleem Mahmoud (4)
Kevin Williams, In
Defense of Compulsory Education,
Journal of Philosophy of Education, Vol 24, No.2, 1990. (5)
Sura 68-1 Al-Qalam (6)
The Educational System in Islam-Baqir Sharif al-Qarashi Translated by Badr
shahin (7)
http://www.answering-christianity.com (8)
