Every child has the right to reach their full potential

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7: To seek knowledge is a sacred duty; it is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female.

The first word revealed of the Quran was ‘Iqra’ — read, seek knowledge, educate yourselves. Be educated.

Islam advocates the obtaining of knowledge by both men and women. In fact, a father who educates his daughter is held in very high esteem by Allah, Lord of the worlds.

The obtaining of knowledge should be for benefit as it is the duty of the knowledgeable to teach and pass on their knowledge for the benefit of mankind and the greater society.

It is indeed a sad and unproductive condition to have a nation of ignorant people. However in gaining knowledge it is important to remain humble.

Prophet Muhammad is quoted to have said: “He, who learns for the sake of haughtiness, dies ignorant.

“He, who learns only to talk, rather than to act, dies a hypocrite.

Justice

“He, who learns for the mere sake of debating, dies irreligious.

“He, who learns only to accumulate wealth, dies an atheist.

“And he, who learns for the sake of action, dies a mystic.”

Renowned scholar and Imam Jaffer as-Sadiq said about acting with knowledge: “Accept not deed without knowledge, and there is not knowledge except with action.

“So, whoever knows, his knowledge leads him to action, and whoever acts not has no knowledge.”

The first day of school for the majority of students in Bermuda saw the advent of those seeking knowledge from the pre-schooler to the university student.

All having a common cause, and that is to be empowered by knowledge.

The children looked impressive with their new uniforms, backpacks and shiny shoes; their faces too, beaming with enthusiasm and expectations of a great new year.

We as parents, educators and community stakeholders must ensure through vigilance and justice that the expectations of our students are met. 

‘No child left behind’ is a popular saying that must be put into reality. 

Every child has the right to reach their full and true potential.

Schools are venues were formal knowledge is acquired and teachers are the vehicles from which knowledge is disseminated, but the real investors are the parents.

Parents have the awesome and challenging duty of ensuring their children have everything at their disposal to make them happy and productive students. 

In order to be a good student, the student must know unequivocally that they have the love and support of their parents, family or caring adult to help them to be the best they can be.

This means that children must know what is expected from them and that parents have the utmost confidence in their abilities.

They must feel safe and free from worry of adult matters.

Parents must know how to keep a healthy balance of reality and fantasy in their children.

Parents must provide an atmosphere of learning for their children and must always let them know that they can reach the stars.

Parents must seek assistance through services available in the community that will help their children gain their full potential.

Teachers must aim high for themselves and their students; respecting the family values and meshing them with their own.

Teachers must gently provide guidance through best professional practices towards student and parents; fostering a partnership for the aims and goals of all, especially the student.

And of course, the stakeholders of the community must ensure that all are playing their part to bring about the fruition of ‘no child left behind’.

This must be done in meeting the needs of the students poste-haste — bearing in mind the time sensitivity of it all.

We must lean on the old adage ‘a stitch in time saves nine’.

What is the sense of having services in place when in fact it takes too long for the wheels to turn to get action that will resolve the matter at hand. Timing is everything.

Persistence

In Bermuda we are very fortunate to have at our fingertips services that support and promote the attaining of each child’s full potential.

Many might say, “What are you talking about, Walia?”

But I know for a fact that there are many agencies in government working very hard to ensure Bermuda’s students’ success.

We as parents and stakeholders must avail ourselves of this knowledge and make sure that our children get every service they may individually need.

It’s not hard; there are many professionals ready and willing to provide services to each and every family that requires it.

Call me if you have to and I will point you in the right direction — as I have at my fingertips the knowledge of where I can get a bevy of professionals that will help, support and collaborate families with what should be their most prized possession — their children.

And guess what? These services are offered from birth.

So parents get on board, and once on board be relentless, ceaseless and intense, persistent in getting things moving in a timely fashion.

The following quote by Samuel Johnson sums up knowledge for me — “Knowledge is of two kinds”.

We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it. 

So Bermuda, remember we are all in this school year together and we must be on a mission to ensure that all who come into our presence are equipped with the know-how of seeking knowledge for a successful 2012-13 academic year.

So important is education in Islam that we are taught to seek knowledge wherever it may be and to seek it from the cradle to the grave.

We know that knowledge can never end, and that one can increase their knowledge every day.