Have we stopped learning, when consider ourselves educated

Have we stopped learning, when consider ourselves educated

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” ~Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein through his quote is giving us an important life message. While in school we learn two type of things. First are facts and second are social and moral values. This would then translate to key social and professional skills. Later in life, even if we were all to forget those factual teachings, the moral values and key skills are expected to reside in us. Now it is up to us to take decision on moral and ethical grounds and use experience for natural course corrections. One thing should be kept in mind that there is a marked difference in acquiring knowledge, and having the skill to apply them in real life.

Learning, when institutionalized becomes EDUCATION, and is best described by the paper that certifies it. Like your degree certificate or diploma. A certificate of degree or diploma are documents issued by an educational institution, such as a university, testifying the recipient has earned a degree or has successfully completed a particular course of study. However it does not certify that the person who completed it is capable of applying what was learned into result yielding action. This then is the basic flaw in what is called education.

This quote from Albert Einstein is of immense importance in Indian, especially in the Kerala context. Kerala is the first Indian state that claimed one hundred per cent literacy. However there as some who claim, with irrefutable facts that, from that day, we have stopped learning. Learning, unlike education, is about what has become part of applicable skills, based on the knowledge acquired. As part of education you may do a post graduate course in a language, something your certificate will testify. However in reality you may be incapable of delivering one sentence without error. This has been displayed, sometimes rather embarrassingly, on multiple, very visible public podia. On the other hand, there could be a young man or woman, who learned the language through interactions and practice and who would speak flawlessly, without the need for certification.

It is time for us to draw the line between education and learning. Education should necessarily encompass true learning and not be confined to the words written on answer sheet. Let what is learned, or more ideally what you have chosen to learn be certified by your application. Let the answer sheet be but one among many reflections of your learning. Not the final statement.