The power of education

"One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world."

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, this extraordinary young lady, Malala Yousafzai, barely 16 years of age, is confronting the Taliban in Pakistan, the group that attempted to shoot her dead two years ago, with a strident defiance in her voice. The Taliban tried to murder her simply because she was attending school; showing drive and ambition the group found unacceptable.

The UN General Assembly has hailed Malala Yousafzai as a hero: "They thought a bullet would silence her, but they failed after nine months and many surgical interventions."

The Taliban sent a gunman to kill the young lady in an attempt to curtail her fight for women's education. They thought the bullet would silence the call for female education in Pakistan and other Muslim communities, but they failed. I think divine works were at play here, for what is the likelihood of such a young girl surviving nine surgical operations in six months, unassisted?

AFRAID OF BOOKS

Malala has a fitted titanium plate on the side of her head, and cochlear implants to restore hearing. But she is alive.

At the UN Assembly, she remarked: "The extremists are afraid of books and pens, and the power of education frightens them; as well as the power of a woman's voice."

Indeed, for on her head she wore a white shawl that once belonged to former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, another woman who defied the rules of extremism.

Then, she boldly gave an interpretation of Islam that contradicts that of the Taliban. "They think that God is a tiny, conservative little being who would send girls to hell because of going to school. Islam and our Pathan society demands peace, humanity, and brotherhood. It is each child's duty to their family and community to get an education."

About four million signatures remain on file supporting education for children around the world who do not go to school. Yet, in our country, Jamaica, the gangsters and gunmen wait on our female children outside schools, to fill their heads with nonsense, molest and abuse them, rape and murder them. Meanwhile, we the people stand aside with our hands folded on our chest and watch it all happen.

I see that improvements are being made, but can we wait 10 years for a satisfactory conclusion to our children's education? When we had more crime than we have today (well, it is about the same), men would go out into the streets, in groups, to see that their families got home safely.

What is wrong if unoccupied men and women perform the duties of a child guards in the course of a day at school, in those schools which have no other security? Perhaps this is an idea whose time has come.

There are too many Government ministers and officials, who have gang leaders in their back pockets, and who suborn money from the revenue. We have to earn what we pay to our children's welfare. Is that not so, Mr Peter Bunting, minister of national security?

Ramesh Sujanani is a businessman. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and rsujanani78@gmail.com.