Inclusive, good-quality education is a foundation for dynamic and

Hear the radiant words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the healer of nations, who proclaimed: “Inclusive, good-quality education is a foundation for dynamic and equitable societies.” These words carry not only the wisdom of a man who witnessed oppression and liberation but also the eternal truth of human flourishing. For Tutu knew that without justice in learning, there can be no justice in living, and without the opening of minds, there can be no opening of nations.

The first meaning of his words is this: education is not a privilege but a birthright. When learning is hoarded by the few and denied to the many, society becomes lopsided, corrupt, and fragile. The powerful cling to their thrones, while the poor remain chained in darkness. But when education is inclusive, when it opens its doors to all—rich and poor, male and female, strong and weak—then the very soil of society is enriched, and from it grows a harvest of justice and possibility.

The second truth is that not all education is equal. To indoctrinate is not to educate; to offer crumbs of knowledge is not to nourish the soul. Only good-quality education—that which teaches truth, sharpens reason, awakens compassion, and equips the learner with tools for life—can serve as the foundation for greatness. Tutu warns us that shallow learning creates shallow societies, but rich and honest learning builds nations strong enough to withstand storms.

History testifies to this. In South Africa, during the long years of apartheid, Black children were denied quality schooling. The rulers feared the power of their minds, and so they fed them lies and limited opportunity. But the people rose, demanding inclusive education, for they knew that without it, freedom itself would be incomplete. When apartheid fell, one of the great struggles of rebuilding was to ensure that every child, regardless of color or class, could learn. This was the living embodiment of Tutu’s truth: only when education is made equal can a society itself become equitable.

We see this again in the history of Japan after the Second World War. Devastated, the nation might have remained broken. But by investing deeply in good-quality education—for all, not just for the elite—it rose to become one of the most dynamic societies on earth. This proves that when a people sow knowledge broadly, they reap innovation, resilience, and strength. Thus Tutu’s words are not lofty dreams but lessons proven on the stage of history.

The lesson for us today is urgent: if we desire peace, we must plant schools; if we desire equality, we must ensure those schools teach well and welcome all. To deny a child inclusive education is not only to wound that child but to wound the future of the whole community. For ignorance breeds division, but knowledge—when shared—breeds unity and progress. The fate of tomorrow is being written today in classrooms across the world.

Practical action follows. Support schools that uplift the poor, advocate for teachers who give their lives to shaping young minds, and fight against systems that hoard knowledge for the few. If you are a student, seek to learn not for yourself alone, but for the service of your people. If you are a parent, nurture curiosity in your child and teach them that their education is not a selfish possession but a gift to be shared with their community. If you are a leader, remember that the surest way to secure your nation’s strength is to invest in inclusive, good-quality education.

So let Tutu’s words echo across the generations: “Inclusive, good-quality education is a foundation for dynamic and equitable societies.” Build upon this foundation, and the house of humanity will stand strong. Neglect it, and the structure will crumble. Choose, then, the path of wisdom: open the gates of learning to all, and by doing so, leave behind a society more just, more vibrant, and more whole than the one you inherited.