Educating girls, the first educators
THE advancement of our societies and humanity now requires the full participation of everyone, including women. For this to happen, girls, as well as boys, must be valued by their families and by society and given equal opportunities for education and in all other fields of human endeavour.
In a family, although both parents share in the overall responsibility of educating their children, the mother is given recognition as the first educator of humanity, and she must be carefully prepared for this task.
Girls will not only render service to humanity as mothers and first educators of the next generation, but, as women, they will make special contributions to the creation of a just world order.
Mothers can be the primary agents for empowering individuals to transform society.
They can instil in their children the self-esteem and respect for others: essential for the advancement of civilisation.
In the present transition of humanity to greater maturity, women’s roles and contributions cannot be underestimated.
As women and men complement each other, if one side is underdeveloped, the other also cannot attain its fullest potential.
The Bahá’í Writings state: “As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.”
Education is a basic human right
Development and education of every child, their personality, talents, mental and physical abilities and spiritual qualities to their fullest potential, is the right of every child - whether boy or girl.
Education of girls is not only a human right, it is also in the best interests of society as a whole.
It is the Bahá’í view that education should be provided to every child, and equally to boys and girls.
The Universal House of Justice, the governing council of the Bahá’í international community, states: “The cause of universal education … deserves the utmost support that the governments of the world can lend it. For ignorance is indisputably the principal reason for the decline and fall of peoples and the perpetuation of prejudice.
“No nation can achieve success unless education is accorded all its citizens. The decision-making agencies involved would do well to consider giving first priority to the education of women and girls, since it is through educated mothers that the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively and rapidly diffused throughout society.
“In keeping with the requirements of the times, consideration should also be given to teaching the concept of world citizenship as part of the standard education of every child.”
Women are encouraged in the Baha’i Writings to study all branches of knowledge and to participate as equal partners with men in every field of human endeavour.
The capacity of a girl is the same as a boy and she can achieve similar results as a boy could, if she is educated and given the same opportunities.
According to the Bahá’í Scriptures: “. . . men and women are equal in the sight of God … there is no distinction to be made between them. The only difference between them now is due to lack of education and training. If a woman is given equal opportunity of education, distinction and estimate of inferiority will disappear.”
As girls and boys are equal in intellectual capacity and in potential to serve humanity, girls and boys should study the same curriculum.
The way should be open for women and girls to enter all spheres of human endeavour, including the arts and sciences, agriculture, commerce, industry and the affairs of the State.
There is no natural limit on women’s abilities.
Creating empowering conditions for girls at home and in society
Today, our challenge is how to create the conditions in which girls can develop to their full potential.