Education That Money Cannot Buy
Education is the most valuable asset in human life. It shapes awareness, character, and a sense of responsibility towards society. In today’s social context, however, the trend of measuring education through money is growing. Schools that charge high fees, have attractive buildings, use modern technology, and carry foreign names are widely taken as symbols of quality education. Many parents compare the standard of education with the amount of fees and begin to accept the belief that expensive education is good education.
Where education is connected with life, it gives rise not only to knowledge but also to awareness. That is where true education begins. Such education enables students to face life’s challenges. The best education is found where teachers, with an open heart, encourage students to think, to understand, and to internalize the values of life. The close relationship between teacher and student, integrity in teaching, and a curriculum linked with real life together form the foundation of genuine education.
Education is not a commercial commodity; it is the development of human consciousness and sound judgment. Nelson Mandela has said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Education is not merely a process of obtaining certificates; it is the transformation of thought, behavior, and outlook on life.
In the present context, the core purpose of education based on knowledge, awareness, and humanity appears to be overshadowed by its commercialization. Schools, colleges, and universities are becoming more focused on attractive buildings, grand events, and displays of physical infrastructure than on becoming temples of learning. The human dimension of education, which should promote ethics, empathy, and social responsibility, is gradually fading. Our society does show skilled and technically competent human resources, but the number of citizens with character, honesty, and commitment to moral values is decreasing. True education is the process that goes beyond examinations and certificates and inspires individuals to think, to feel, and to contribute responsibly to society.
Expansion of Capability and Freedom
Nobel Prize–winning economist Amartya Sen, in his well-known work Development as Freedom, writes that education is not only a means of development; it is also an exercise of freedom. Education is a force that strengthens a person’s ability to think, to decide, and to determine the direction of one’s own life. It makes a person self-reliant rather than dependent.
In a country like ours, with social, economic, and geographic diversity, education is not only a means to obtain employment; it is a path to equality, justice, and empowerment. When students learn to feel the pain of others, to become sensitive to social injustice, and to understand the meaning of their own existence, that is the kind of education that money cannot buy. Such education teaches them to think beyond examinations and marks and to recognize the importance of self-exploration and coexistence.
The current education system often confines students to the race of examinations, marks, and certificates. The growing trend is to measure the success of students by their GPA or by their ability to go abroad. The true measure of education lies in the power to think, in empathy, and in social responsibility. Education should help learners understand reality, recognize their responsibilities towards themselves and society, and find the courage to speak against injustice. Education cannot be bought with money because it is not only knowledge; it is realization. It is not a narrow intellectual competition but the expansion of human consciousness.
Dimensions of Education
Education is not only a means of gaining certificates or employment; it shapes a person’s thinking, character, and view of life. There are dimensions of education that money cannot buy, which bring out its real value and impact.
In the villages and communities of Nepal, knowledge, values, and ways of life accumulated over generations continue to exist. They include shared living, cooperation, agricultural skills, folk arts, and the practice of collective decision-making. When schools incorporate such perspectives into their curriculum, students learn to understand and experience the soul of their own society. Community-centered education encourages students to understand local problems and to participate actively in their solutions. This is a positive transformation in thinking, attitudes, and relationships.
A true teacher is one who understands the mind and inner world of the student. The essence of education lies in the teacher’s care, empathy, and encouraging behavior. This builds confidence in students, develops their ability to think, and turns failure into an opportunity for learning. Education is a practice that flows from the heart, and the role of the teacher remains a central foundation of the kind of education that cannot be bought with money.
The school is the initial space for practicing democracy. It is where students should learn to work in groups, exchange ideas, and make collective decisions. When schools give priority to cooperation rather than one-sided competition, students develop as responsible, sensitive, and engaged citizens. As Nelson Mandela stated, education does not only expand individual awareness; it also makes social transformation possible. Only when schools enable the practice of ethics, tolerance, and social responsibility can a nation produce citizens of character.
True education does not end after receiving a certificate; it continues throughout life. The person who continues to read, to understand, and to adapt to changing circumstances is truly educated. Libraries, community learning centers, radio lessons, and digital platforms in Nepal still open doors to new knowledge and opportunities for thousands of people. This continuity of education is the core energy of human progress. Curiosity, self-empowerment, and the spirit of inquiry cannot be bought with money.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has said, “One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.” Yet many children are still excluded from education due to caste, gender, language, disability, or poverty. As long as education does not serve as a medium of equal opportunity for all, justice and inclusive development remain out of reach. The education that money cannot buy is the one that identifies each child’s potential, gives each voice a fair chance, and challenges inequality.
Reform in Nepal’s education is essential, but it cannot be achieved only by increasing financial investment. The quality of education must be measured by the depth of teaching and learning, by the relationship between teacher and student, and by the practice of moral values. Schools need to prioritize value-based education that develops empathy, responsibility, and social awareness.
Instead of relying solely on examination-centered evaluation, project-based and experiential assessment systems should be adopted. These approaches bring out students’ creativity and practical abilities. Special attention must be given to ensuring equal access to education and maintaining quality for children in rural and remote areas. Teachers must be provided with training and resources so that they can not only teach subject content but also inspire students, stimulate critical thinking, and support value formation.
Conclusion
Money can buy buildings, books, and technology, but it cannot buy integrity, empathy, the ability to think, or the awareness that searches for the meaning of life. This is true education, which makes individuals aware, responsible, humane, and connected with life.
Nepal now needs to move beyond a narrow focus on physical development and move towards human development. This journey does not begin only within school walls; it begins in the hearts of teachers and in the awareness of students. Money can buy degrees but not perspective; it can build classrooms but not character.
Good education is that which provides not only knowledge but also judgment, compassion, and social responsibility. When these qualities are integrated into the education system, only then can Nepal become, in the true sense, an educated nation, where education stands on human values rather than on money. As Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has stated, education is an expansion of human freedom. When Nepal builds an education system that teaches students to think independently, to speak truthfully, and to work responsibly for society, then education will begin to write a new chapter of development together with humanity.
