Education is the key to changing the world

Reading and looking at news reports, one would be forgiven for thinking that the only news to emerge out of Europe these past days is related to the state of the Greek economy and the politics of the European Union. But leading political leaders and thinkers also gathered in Oslo over the last two days to formulate policies on a global effort to support education.

And with so many young people now living precariously in refugee camps or in shelters across the Middle East, with young lives disrupted by political and sectarian violence, and with pressing economic conditions forcing children out of classrooms and into sweatshops, never before has there been such a need for a comprehensive and unified effort to educate the young.

What hope can a child refugee have without the knowledge of books and the wisdom of learning? Without education, how can a child rise from slum to success? And without tutoring, how can the hatred that festers in ignorance be eradicated in the light of informed and intelligent discourse? There can be no meaningful progress unless it is built on a foundation of learning.