Your columnist, Peter Espeut, in his column of March 13 asked a very pertinent question, "What is the vision for education (in Jamaica)?"

It would be useful, however, in attempting to answer that question, to first ask ourselves, what is education?

Education is generally accepted to be the process for the development of the intellect and to enable the individual to obtain a job/career in order to realise the material needs (and wants) in life.

However, as a world educator, Sathya Sai Baba says, "true education is that which results in the development of character, and not just knowledge. Education is not familiarity with books but action. Education is for life and not just for making a living."

Great debt to society

The ability to appreciate that we owe a great debt to the society that afforded us the opportunity to be educated, generally free-of-cost (free to our parents), should make us realise that we have a duty to repay that debt by means of selfless service to society in whatever skills or talents we possess. This is a crucial part of the action which results from 'true education'.

Such type of 'true education' will eventually result in harmony in society and reinforce the moral fabric of society, which has been allowed to decay or at least deteriorate significantly.

Recently, a Parliamentarian was observed to act in his professional capacity, in a way that was at variance with the words he had spoken to his colleagues in Parliament. This type of open conflict by persons who are seen as 'leaders in society' causes confusion to many as to whether this is truly 'educated behaviour'.

However, the real criterion of moral conduct is harmony between one's thoughts, words and deeds. Hence, let us refashion our vision for education and build one that stands on the premise that education is for life and not just for making a living.

Mr Espeut should be commended for raising this very pertinent question that has the means to lift our society to higher levels of service.

I am, etc.,

LALU N. VASWANI

siewibb@promotech.net

St Michael

Barbados