The Importance of Education
What is the advantage of having an education?
Having a education will give you a better chance of getting a job that pays an above minimum wage. Formal education, together with a lot of work by the student can produce qualifications and credentials that will land you that promotion or management position.
An education also improves you as a human being. It helps you develop to your full potential. Learning is the most powerful tool in the world. The more you know the better you get along in the world.
Education versus Training
You could start working immediately after completing school, skip further studies and get free training from the company. Why not?
According to Wikipedia, training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies. This is a result of the teaching of practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. Training is teaching someone how to do something. Most training is company-specific and not easily transferable from one job to another.
Education, on the other hand, is defined in Wikipedia as any act or experience that forms the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. Education is helping someone learn how to think, how to solve problems. Most education would be transferable and you wil climb the corporate ladder a lot faster.
To summarise: Training gives you the fish; education teaches you to fish.
Education: the Best Investment
In the same way you would save money to buy something special – you have to plan and invest money or time to get that dream job or reach your goals. In uncertain economic times, you may hesitate to spend money to advance your career. But the correct investments in the form of money and time, can really pay off.
“As we enter the twenty-first century, it is clear that education is, indeed, the best investment that we can make, for an information economy depends upon a knowledgeable, skilled, educated workforce. The better educated our students are, the better we will perform economically.” Bill Gates
“Education is the investment our generation makes in the future.” Mitt Romney
