EDUCATION - A word oft used in myriad ways, yet open to many definitions. Education is the process of teaching or learning, it is the training of mind and spirit. Education seeks to bring out the inner capabilities of a person. It is an attempt to feed knowledge, skills, attitude, self-opinion and critical thinking inside a person, to bring out the best of him/her.

 Real education starts at the very birth of the child. The etiquettes that are taught at the home is the first step in education that a child gets. It is this education that directs him throughout his life. However, the first and the most constructive step towards education is the formal schooling. It is here that a child is given space to imagine, explore and create his own sense of understanding for the world. The next stage, is the most critical of all, it’s when a child reaches the stage of adolescence. This stage needs delicate handling, wise counselling and great understanding for a child. If all these things are taken care of then it can prevent a young man or woman from going off-track. All these things are a form of good education which plays a vital part in developing an outstanding personality.

But what is education? Is cramming those thick books of physics or chemistry or history or geography mean education? Does being able to converse in different languages mean being educated? Or is it something else?  Education is the combination of the knowledge we gain from books and how we practice it in our daily life. Education is the application of the gained knowledge for the benefit of the society. By reading those books of physics, chemistry and history we become aware of the happenings of the world, we get a better understanding about everything around us.

Many a times, children wonder at the relevance of the subjects taught in school and how do they have a bearing in our future life. Certainly, these subjects are of great use to us in our future life, our career depends on the stream of subjects we choose. Our future is determined by the education we have. Education is what most employers use to make judgement about you. On the top of that, the more knowledge that you can gain throughout education the happier you will be due to a greater understanding about the world. In many job applications the first thing the employers ask is the degree of education you have attained as it adds up to the possibility of getting the job.
      
Education gives us the confidence to stand up and face the world. For instance, in an interview an educated person won’t hesitate to answer the questions asked and would also be able to properly express himself in front of them.

If education was not that important for a person, then what would have been the need to make to the ‘right to education’ a fundamental right in the constitution?

At last I just want to conclude that the type of education that we attain frames the person we are. I would conclude with an example. Consider two people who get the similar education. Both get educated but both choose a different direction. One moves in the direction of crime and the other pursues his happiness, dream through the direction which is not only morally right but also follows the path of the correct meaning of education. Maybe, the one into crime is richer and more successful; if wealth is considered the bench mark of happiness and success. At a point the young need to make choices and need someone to give them the direction. If that is not given to him the result is negative