State Structure and Education : From Athens to Modern Era

Education plays an important role in building a good society. It promotes good governance and transparency in a state. Right to education is indeed considered as an essential human right since time immemorial. Education is a dynamic process that lends the dignity of man. It’s the most important element for growth and prosperity of a nation. Education is an endless journey that opens up new vistas of development of humanism in the pursuit of truth. Knowledge and enlightenment lead to character building, strengthening of mind and expansion of intellect. In the true Athenian and Indian concept, education needs to be free from all its fetters, social economic political, religious or communal. Education is of great instrumental value in the process of growth of the State and sustainable human development. Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher recognized the education as a part of major obligation on the state. According to him the growth and development of state primarily depends on the quality of education it provides to its people. Plato believed in 100% literacy that should be provided by the state free of cost through a uniform pattern and in similar condition. Plato’s educational system, therefore is founded on the principle of compulsory education, equal opportunity to all citizens irrespective of gender and birth ground. 21st century academic environment is breaking away from the conventional style of learning and teaching use by both the teachers and students. The technological enabled teaching has taken the place of old-fashioned model of lectures aimed at passive audiences. Today, attaining the soft skills their curricula become necessary to evolve the abilities to work the areas such as communication, team work, organizational system etc. Such skills may give them the extra edge to compete in the world of multiple options and careers. The success of higher education depends upon how intelligently one chooses the opportunities and resources at one’s disposal to reach the place one aspires for his life.