The International Day of Education – observed globally on 24 January – is a reminder of the need for a universal and balanced education. Education is a continuous and creative process, aiming at the discovery and perfection of one’s God-given talents and capacities. According to the Bahá’í Writings, both spiritual and intellectual education are necessary for individuals to realise their full potential as contributing members of both socially and spiritually advancing communities.
The education needed to enrich both mind and spirit should try to develop the essentially moral attributes including truthfulness, courtesy, generosity, compassion, justice, love and trustworthiness.
The reflection of such attributes in the everyday life of an individual creates harmonious, productive and peaceful families and communities. Such education should also help to instil the awareness of the fundamental oneness of humanity.
According to the Bahá’í Writings, “knowledge is praiseworthy when it is coupled with ethical conduct and virtuous character” and “the proper education of children is of vital importance to the progress of mankind, and the heart and essential foundation of all education is spiritual and moral training”.
The Bahá’í Writings speak of three kinds of education: material, human and spiritual.
Spiritual education deals with acquiring the right values and with the shaping of one’s character. It is through spiritual education that our children are directed to use the knowledge, tools and means acquired through material and human education, for the advantage of humanity.
Therefore education, whether it be at home or at school, should lead our children and youths in their moral empowerment, as well as their intellectual development.
The Universal House of Justice, the governing council of the Bahá’í international community, in its statement entitled “The Promise of World Peace” asserts that “peace stems from an inner state supported by a spiritual or moral attitude, and it is chiefly in evoking this attitude that the possibility of enduring solutions can be found”.
Therefore, our educational programmes and activities should place the necessary emphasis on the moral and spiritual education of our children.
They also need to nurture in our children and youths an appreciation for the richness and importance of the world’s diverse cultural, religious and social systems. To achieve this, they need to be free of all forms of prejudice whether religious, national, gender-based, racial or of ethnic origin.
It is important that our school curriculum becomes an instrument in promoting peace, and the belief in the unity and oneness of humanity is cultivated in our children throughout their education.
According to the governing council of the Bahá’í international community: “Children must be so raised as to regard every soul, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or any other affiliation, as a fellow human being and to hold dear the words [of Bahá’u’lláh] that capture the spirit of the age: “The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch”.
Flora Teckie is a professional architect
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a Bahá’í Faith follower, and spiritual columnist.
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