Balanced Education : To Build A Free Press
I realised the huge impact of education and the role of the media which influence the competitiveness of a nation when I visited India last year. I also witnessed the country’s achievements and the impact of its relations with foreign countries.
I was reminded of the importance of tolerance in nation building. Having a tolerant view on many aspects of life and society helps build harmonious communities and promotes unity.
A solid education system and free constructive media thus play a crucial role in countries.They enable people to widen their horizons and develop a larger vision beyond the self.
A healthy education system gives students access to a wealth of knowledge that serves all communities and avoid damaging controversies. Furthermore, this balanced system should take into consideration the interest of the nation first. It should instil values and principles of patriotism, tolerance, justice, and cooperation among people.
Racial superiority has no place in such a system. Democracy has proved that it is the answer to most social and political problems even though its enemies think otherwise.
Media in societies can be free if the educational system is fair. This produces informative, balanced and objective media coverage.
Also, these media outlets be supervised by a professional and well-established watchdog. This enhances the knowledge of the community and allows responsible discussion on topics of national importance.
(The writer is Professor, College Humanities and Sciences, Ajman University).
A. J. Hassan
UAE
