Written by: Lorris Shuriah 

September 8, 2025 

Ever since the inception of schools, the phrase “Education is the key to success” has been reverberated throughout generations, challenging the minds of individuals, especially the young ones to obtain a good education so that they can lead a productive life. One in which they can provide for themselves without having to become dependent or doing menial jobs that can hardly compensate for life’s necessities. However, a quality education requires stability, and some persons just don’t have the security particularly financially to cover the expenses of obtaining a good education. Several individuals across the world suffer from poverty, and this is one of the main factors that affect the process of becoming fully educated. Nevertheless, there are some persons that have been able to jump over the hurdles of poverty, and are determined to savor a life of success that requires the key of education. These persons will often lament how difficult it was for them to further their education, and the sacrifices they had to make so that they could break out of the cycle of poverty. Shafeeq Raham who is a Pakistani scholar had faced many challenges to become the educator he is today. He was born in a small village, and had limited access to quality education, but that did not hinder his passion for knowledge. Raham worked multiple jobs to support his studies. Despite his financial background, it was his commitment for learning that earned him degrees in the fields of economics, political science and philosophy.  

Unarguably, the art of education comes at the expense of dedication. And though financial stability plays an imperative role in obtaining quality education, knowledge is free unto any man who is willing to learn. However, to have access to knowledge without the slightest idea of how to dissect and consume it, will leave one feeling like a fish drowning in water. Therefore, can we argue that having knowledge without understanding lacks the ability to analyze and interpret information as well as developing cognitive skills? Certainly, yes. Which is why there is a need for pedagogy, we learn through the teachings of those who are well educated. Those who have traversed the halls of universities and teacher’s college, absorbing and comprehending all that they can so that they too can pass on what they have learned to their students with the hope of helping to encourage excellence and success. 

What About Autodidacts? 

While some persons may lack the ability to acquire knowledge on their own, there are several individuals who are self-taught and are able to rise above the challenge of the “Dunce Culture” that has been making waves among youths living in Jamaica and other parts of the world.
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, was also faced with financial difficulties while growing up, which had forced him to leave school early, but he continued to seek knowledge and became self-educated while becoming a young entrepreneur using this to his advantage to build black economic independence. Garvey taught himself many business ventures from establishing his own printing business to a shipping company. These entrepreneurial experiences helped Garvey to further pursue his goals of becoming a successful black man. Garvey encouraged learning and reading among his people, pointing out that one should never stop learning, and reading a lot, especially materials with substance which makes you a ready individual for the world. He also stated that intelligence rules the world and ignorance carries the burden. 
Another prominent figure that can be considered as an autodidact is Nikola Tesla. Many persons argue that Tesla is a self-taught genius, and that most of what he knew came through self-isolation and intense focus. Although Nikola Tesla attended a total of two universities, he did not complete his studies at either one. It is only fair to say that Tesla’s remarkable mind was developed through his addiction for reading and acquiring knowledge in his field of study that he never found sufficient in formal education. Undoubtedly, Tesla wanted more, he wanted to unlock a part of his mind that would enable him to become one of the greatest in his field. 

In addition, I would like to turn the focus on Thomas Edison, a renowned inventor that was self-taught for most of his life, he only attended formal school for a few months. Thomas was adamant on becoming a self-taught individual as it came to his realization that he did not fit into the formal schooling system. He was taught literacy and arithmetic by his mother but had accumulated most of his knowledge by being an avid reader as he was always a curious child. Thomas Edison was not fazed by the notion of acquiring formal schooling to become a successful individual, it was of his view that working on himself and acquiring self-taught knowledge along with working multiple jobs as a teenager would have enable him to pave his way to excellence, and so it happened that Mr. Edison, at the age of sixteen obtained full knowledge on how to operate a telegraph machine.  

He began to work as a telegrapher until 1868, by this time, Thomas was clear on his decision of becoming an inventor, and so he did, again without enrolling in any formal schooling. Today, Thomas Edison is widely revered for his key inventions such as the light bulb, electric utility system, motion pictures and R&D labs. He and among several others that have paved the way for success, contributing to the development of our society and the world on a whole, are testament to the art of education. They are proof that you can create your own excellence without having the ready tools at hand that may only be available to those who are privileged or have enrolled into a learning institution. The art of education can be attained by any man and woman who are willing to be committed and strive before they can thrive. 

So, What Exactly Is The Art of Education? 

The art of education is indelible; it has helped many people to carve out their own success, it has been the solution for many persons coming from the home of poverty to better themselves and to liberate themselves from the cage of dearth. The art of education is not only available to those who can afford to enroll in formal education, it belongs to anyone one who is determined enough to paint their passion, those who are driven toward success with what little they have. So, I encourage you to pucker up, kiss the fear of failing goodbye. Read like your life depends on it, go for your goals, reach with all your might until you are able to latch onto whatever it is that you want to excel in. It doesn’t matter who is ahead or where they are getting theirs from, but if you try hard enough, you might just end up in the same room as those who you thought were the only ones that had the key to success. The art of education is only expensive to those who aren’t willing to invest in oneself.