Communication in Education

Education is all about communication – not only of hard facts
but also of thoughts and ideas and proposals on which to base
discussion and debate. A good teacher who can effectively
communicate facts, ideas and theories will turn out wellqualified
pupils, but there is one thing lacking in almost every
education system in the world, and that is teaching those pupils
how to communicate their thoughts to others. Young people
are simply not being prepared for what the world needs, or for
them to be able to achieve the success and enjoyment that are
available.
There is a common belief among educationalists that knowledge
is power. This is totally incorrect. Knowledge is not
power; it is potential power. We get paid for what we do with
what we know, not just for what we know. When we have
gained knowledge, what is most important is how we use it –
how we communicate it, or pass it on to others.
Consider the following statement: formal education has one
purpose only – to get people their first job. Self-education earns
them their living.
Initially, the truth of this statement may be difficult to accept.
Whether it is two individuals in a small organization or two
radical groups in an international conflict, if they don’t communicate
they will never resolve their differences.
However, although aspects of what we learn at school, college
or university enable us to get through our first interview, how
much of what we learn in our years of formal education do we
actually use later on in life? If we are honest, very little.