By Dapbianglin Sohkhlet
Having taught in rural schools myself, I have come to realise that the rising dropout rate among secondary students is not caused solely by poverty. Financial hardship plays its part, but beneath it lies something far more psychological: a quiet erosion of belief, motivation, and hope.
In many households, parents often, without intending harm, instill discouraging ideas in their children. I have heard it repeatedly: “Education is of no use nowadays. It does not guarantee a job. It is a waste of money. It is an investment with no return.” For many families, teaching a child to earn a livelihood seems more practical than sending them to school.
When I speak to parents, they tell me they only want their children to be “knowledgeable enough” to write their names or to talk without fear. Beneath this lies a painful truth: many parents have lost faith in education as a pathway to opportunity. Their own experiences with unemployment and insecurity shape what they teach their children. The weight of hopelessness falls not just on the youth, but on entire families.
This despair is also visible in students. I remember a Class 9 student once asking me, with heartbreaking simplicity: “What is the use of studying when, at the end, you don’t even have a rupee to buy anything for yourself?” That question captured the very crisis we face: children are beginning to believe that education cannot transform their lives.
I have even felt the sting of doubt. With a Master’s degree and a Doctorate in progress, I have been questioned, laughed at, and criticised for my choices. People have mocked my dedication, telling me my years of study will lead only to failure, disappointment, and a certificate hanging uselessly on a wall. Many times, such remarks drenched my heart in fear and doubt. But must we live in fear forever? No. This is where the difference between education and knowledge becomes essential. Education, to some, may seem like a gamble with no promise of return. But knowledge is immeasurable. It is larger than the world itself. Education may be tied to exams, certificates, and expectations, but it also builds knowledge and frees the mind if sincerely pursued.
Knowledge is strength. It guides our choices. It teaches us the value of life. When we learn, we are not merely reading or writing; we are creating something within ourselves. Knowledge becomes a quiet source of joy, a spark of motivation that tells us there is a solution for every doubt and a path through every fear. Knowledge teaches humility, humanity, kindness, observation, and courage. It prepares us not only for employment but also for living a meaningful life. The first thing we learn in school is discipline, which shapes our path in life. Every successful person is not built by skills alone; it is discipline that makes them who they are today. A knowledgeable person knows that when discipline is taught from a very young age, life will prosper.
This is what we must tell our children. We must teach them to trust their worth, their abilities, their potential. We must remind them that at the end of every tunnel, there is always light. To be independent, we need education. To shape our minds and our character, we need it even more to be disciplined in life.
A school uniform is not just a piece of cloth; it represents unity, discipline, and identity. A classroom is not merely a room full of children; it is a room of dreams, of young thinkers, of hope itself. It is a place where futures quietly begin.
We must teach our children that life is not shaped by money alone. A farmer is not knowledgeable because he already possesses it, but he encompasses the knowledge and education that has been passed down from generation to generation through oral tradition, Children seek knowledge by observing everyday what their elders have done, and they follow it daily, they understand where, when, how, and why. Knowledge is built through practice, patience, observation, and resilience, not through titles. Yet society often misunderstands this and labels farmers, carpenters, and craftsmen as “jobless,” forgetting that their mastery comes from years of discipline and hard work.
To parents and children who consider dropping out of school, it is important to understand this truth: hard work, patience, dedication, and discipline are what truly shape a human life. Education at the secondary level is not just about books or exams; it is a foundation that disciplines a child at a critical age. It teaches structure, responsibility, and respect, qualities that guide a person throughout life. Through education, a child learns the value of time, the value of knowledge, and the value of effort. When we respect those who teach us, we also learn to respect those who gave us life. Education teaches respect for parents, elders, and society. It builds manners, self-control, and a sense of order in life.
In every profession, mastery is achieved through practice, and practice is sustained by patience and consistency. We will never understand how if we do not first learn the where, when, and why. Whether in farming, craftsmanship, or academics, discipline is the root of success, and education helps plant that discipline early in life.
Only those who pursue education sincerely; who truly seek knowledge, understand the heavy burden of being questioned and judged. It is not simply the weight of harsh words; it is mentally exhausting. You keep trying, yet fear whispers inside you: What if what they say is true?
When I was a child, a person who learned was more respected than a person who earned. Today, someone who learns but does not immediately reap the benefits is often seen as a burden, a failure, a disappointment, or an unproductive investment. This shift in values has wounded many young hearts. But I am blessed with parents who became my greatest motivators; parents who fought every discouraging voice to show me the power of education and knowledge. Because of them, I regret nothing. I know that every tree grows at its own pace, and every person blooms in their own season.
And so, I plead with society: stop comparing children. Comparison destroys confidence and crushes potential. Every child is unique in their abilities, their interests, and their fields of knowledge. Let them grow in their own time, in their own way, and towards their own dreams.
To the students: Come to school not because you must, but because you deserve a future. Your efforts are seeds; they will grow even if you do not see them yet.
To the parents: Your belief is your child’s first education. Speak hope, not fear. Your words build their courage.
To the teachers: You are the guardians of futures. What you give cannot be measured in certificates. You give the possibility.
A community that values learning lifts itself. Education is not a burden; it is a bridge. It is not an expense; it is an investment in hope, dignity, identity, and courage. Schools are not just buildings; they are the beginning of everything a child can become.
“Education is not the path to perfection; it is the courage to begin, and every child deserves that chance. For a mind that learns is a mind that rises, and when a child rises, a community rises with them. The true poverty of a society is not the lack of money, but the lack of belief in its children.
Remember, “the future is not written for us; it is written by us, one lesson at a time.”
