One of the principles or tenets of Bahá'í social
teaching. 'Abdu'l-Bahá explained: 'Bahá'u'lláh has announced that
inasmuch as ignorance and lack of education are barriers of separation
among mankind, all must receive training and instruction. Through this provision the lack of mutual understanding will be remedied and the
unity of mankind furthered and advanced. Universal education is a
universal law. It is, therefore, incumbent upon every father to teach
and instruct his children according to his possibilities. If he is unable to
educate them, the body politic, the representative of the people, must
provide the means for their education.' And: 'education is essential,
and all standards of training and teaching throughout the world of
mankind should be brought into conformity and agreement; a universal
curriculum should be established, and the basis of ethics be the same.'
'Daughters and sons must follow the same curriculum of study, thereby
promoting unity of the sexes.'
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| 'Furthermore, the education of woman is more necessary and
important than that of man, for woman is the trainer of the child from
its infancy . . . If the educator be incompetent, the educated will be
correspondingly lacking . . . The mothers are the first educators of
mankind; if they be imperfect, alas for the condition and future of the
race.' |
| [BD 76-77] |
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| See also: Nature of Education |
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