Four Levels of “Why Go To University?”
Literal Comprehension:
“WHY GO TO UNIVERSITY” is a suggestive essay written by versatile American writer Moti Nissani. He describes some disadvantages and many more advantages in this essay. At the beginning of this essay, he describes some of the disadvantages of going to university; some people think that it keeps away from the responsibilities of their job, family, and friends. Students feel additional burden and stress at the time of doing homework. At the time of studying in the university, students have to pay some fee either by taking a loan which has to repay later. It is the water of time and energy at the time of going to university. One can work and earn money at that time. Knowledge doesn’t always bring happiness. In some ways, ignorance is bliss.
There are many reasons to live away from books and universities. However, most people also feel that the case of self-education, higher education, and cultural literacy is far stronger. But there are more advantages than disadvantages of going to university. There is a good chance to get income and job opportunities while getting a university degree. Income level and high education (University Education) are linked together. A person who is higher educated has a high income and vice-versa. For this, Moti Nissani analyzes the poverty ratio by taking random samples of 1000 high school dropouts, 1000 high school graduates, and 1000 university graduates. He finds that 200, 100, and 50 people are under the poverty line respectively. Education enhances opportunities for career development. Most of the promotional opportunities are simply closed due to a lack of a university degree. It helps to increase the income level and social standing.
It also helps to develop the nation. How? Let us understand it through example; Switzerland is more developed than Nepal and Brazil instead of rich in natural resources. It is because of university graduates people. Switzerland has greater political stability. Because there is a university graduate person, he can evaluate the rules, regulations, and decisions taken by the government. And they make a strike at the time of wrong decision. It contributes to the development of our nations.
It provides us with different types of knowledge which we can use in our day-to-day life. An educated person is more likely to resolve difficulties and also conflicts in a rational manner. An educated person can enjoy better health than an uneducated person. They can know about such harmful things as cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs, etc. which badly affect their health. They also know about the disadvantages of being overweight, lack of exercise. So, they live away from such things. Education (learning things) makes mental exercises. We know that an empty mind is dangerous.
It is one that separates human beings from animals. Educated people get higher respect than uneducated. It does not comes now, it comes from Stone Age. In the Stone Age, medicine people get high respect. Now also, an educated person gets high respect in society than a person who is handsome, kind, physically fit, valiant, and warrior. The lack of education not only damages our social standing but his standing in his own eyes also. Education also fulfills our much inquisitiveness which is arising at the age of children (like why the sky is blue, why 2+2=4, etc.). Going to university also expands our social horizons. In university, we can get many friends. It satisfies our needs for companionship, brotherhood and friendship. Education also increases our personal freedom. Educated men are less superstitious, less traditional, and less dogmatic about their beliefs and ideas. It makes them open-minded and less biased.
University education also helps us to know more about the universe, species, and biosphere. It helps us to know about the importance of the environment and also the ecosystem. It makes people aware of the effects of the destruction of the environment and ecosystem. Education and Democracy are very closely linked with each other. Democracy is effective flourish in an educated society. Government makes many policies, decisions. Citizens have able to judge the policymakers and their policies. It is only possible when citizens are educated.
Finally, the writer of the essay Moti Nissani says that a country like Nepal must have a university education. It plays a vital role in the development and establishment of democracy in Nepal. Moti Nissani argues that Nepali people can develop a better future of Nepal and the future of humanity by bringing greater awareness, enlightenment, and rationality to politics.
Interpretation:
This essay is trying to say us that formal university education is very important in our life. It helps to overall development. It reforms our character and morality. University education reduces our narrow minds, is superstitious, and leads towards progress and prosperity. It helps to live a meaningful life. It also helps in the establishment of democracy in the country. University education enables people to judge between right and wrong things. We should lead a civilized life by educating ourselves.
Critical Thinking:
This essay describes the importance of formal university education in our life. I agree with most of the cases mentioned by the writer but I have some unclear ideas on some case.
- Is only formal education is important?
- What about informal education?
- Are all university graduates getting better job and high income?
- Do only educated people live long and healthy life?
- Are the scholars more respected than the rich businessmen or the powerful politicians?
- Are all educated people rational?
Assimilation:
After reading this essay, I know the importance of university education. Now, I go for a University degree rather than a college degree. Because there is a good chance to get income and job opportunities while getting a university degree. It provides us with different types of knowledge which we can use in our day-to-day life. An educated person is more likely to resolve difficulties and also conflicts in a rational manner. They can enjoy better health than an uneducated person. Educated men are less superstitious, less traditional, and less dogmatic about their beliefs and ideas. It makes them open-minded and less biased.
Answer Question of “Why go to University?”
What are the advantages and disadvantages in going for university education according to Moti Nassani?
Advantages;
- University degree is used to get better job and high income.
- Education enhances opportunities for career development.
- An educated person can enjoy better health than uneducated person because they live away from those things which are harmful to their health.
- Educational sectors and institutions are all mental fields; therefore better education leads us to have a better mind and better thinking.
- At the time of university graduation, we meet many friends and develop the relationship of brotherhood, friendship. It expands our social horizons.
- Education aware us about the importance of both environment and eco-system.
- Higher educated society can only established a better democracy in the country. They have an ability to judge the policy maker and their policies.
- Educated people get higher respect than other ( like handsome, kind, physical fit, valiant and warrior)
- Educated men are less superstitious, less traditional and less dogmatic about their beliefs and ideas. It makes them open minded and less biased.
- Solving difficult problem in a rational manner
Disadvantages;
- University education is not suitable for everyone because their fees are so expensive.
- It kills our time. At that time, we can earn money
- It brings burden and tension at the time of doing homework or assignment.
- It keeps us away from the responsibilities of family and friends.
- Sometimes such education becomes lingering of time than productivity.
2. Condense the main point of “Why Go To University?” into a single sentence.
Moti Nissani is trying to tell us that one should go to the university not only for a degree and certificate but also for political, cultural, intellectual, socio-economic reasons.
3. Summarize “Why Go to University?” in a single paragraph.
This essay describes the importance of university education in our life. A University degree is the way to reach any destination. With a university education, we not only get better job opportunities and high income, but we can also get a high social standing in society. People can solve any difficult problem in a rational manner, they are less superstitious, less traditional, and also less dogmatic about their beliefs and ideas. It makes them open-minded and less biased. Democracy is only flourished in a well-educated society. They can easily judge the policymaker and their policies. Education brings greater awareness, enlightenment, and rationality to politics.
4. Is ignorance is bliss? How?
Ignorance can be bliss. If we don`t know knowledge of bad habits and negative imaginations then surely of bad habits and negative imaginations then surely we`ll not get attracted towards them which makes us more gentle in society.
5. “Knowledge is its own reward.” How?
Knowledge is its own reward because we get or know anything by using it. This is key for every source and if this is with us then we are already rewarded.
6. Do you agree that going to university expands your social horizons? How? Explain.
Yes, I agree that going to university expands our social horizons because when we go to university we meet new friends, make new plans, share new experiences, etc. Education also helps for friendship and personal growth. It increases our personal freedom.
7. How does education increase our personal freedom? Explain with example.
Education increases our personal freedom by shattering (an act of breaking something into small pieces) some of the invisible prison walls of our minds. We know what to do and also what not to by education. So, we get our personal freedom. For example, if someone is forced to do the work with improper technique then we can fight against that technique and perform in our own way without hesitation.
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