Haris Khan
NOWADAYS, skills acquisition is being discussed on almost every platform, leading to a growing demand for skills. Conversely, education, which enables individuals to gain knowledge, develop their minds and shape their character, is often undervalued. Education should not be considered merely a means of livelihood. Although it can help individuals secure jobs and earn a livelihood, its primary purpose extends far beyond that.
Skills equip individuals with the practical abilities required to perform tasks, solve problems and become more independent. Skills are important, but skills without education cannot be sustained for long. Skills are essential for meeting today’s demands, but education is an investment in the future. Even if certain skills are currently in high demand, this does not render education obsolete. In fact, education serves as the foundation upon which skills are developed and continuously renewed.
Learning and applying skills also require an adaptable and analytical mindset cultivated through education. Skills alone may make individuals capable of performing specific tasks, but education allows them to understand those tasks more comprehensively. Skills applied by an educated mind are often utilized more effectively and yield better outcomes.
Education also allows individuals to specialize in a particular subject, enabling them to apply that knowledge to practical tasks. However, skills without the necessary education often lack depth, proper direction and long-term value. It is often observed that educated people apply skills more effectively than those who possess skills alone. Thus, when combined, education and skills can achieve exceptional results.
In today’s society, making money has become the primary goal of achieving a better standard of living and skills have become closely associated with this goal. Education contributes to personal development, shapes ethical and moral values and enhances communication skills. An educated individual can play a vital role in building a balanced, progressive and enlightened society, something that skills alone cannot achieve.
In today’s digital age, social media has become a powerful platform for many self-proclaimed skills trainers who target the younger generation by encouraging them to pursue skills while portraying education as a waste of time.
Education is the key to freedom from misleading ideas and the influence of misguided influencers. Unfortunately, these influencers mislead the younger generation by promoting the notion that skills are more beneficial than formal education. This practice of associating education solely with financial gain while undermining its true value is deeply concerning and unacceptable. Education is far more than a means of earning money because it plays a vital role in developing knowledge, character, critical thinking and ethical and moral values. Therefore, such narratives should be discouraged and the importance of education should be preserved and promoted. At the same time, education should not neglect the importance of skills. It is important to impart knowledge, but it is equally imperative for educational institutions to expose students to, teach them and train them in relevant skills.
—The writer is an MPhil scholar in Finance at the University of Peshawar.
