Did Education Inspire the Egyptian Revolution?

The 1 On 1 Academic Tutors team has watched as Egypt experienced a historical transformation over the past 18 days. With the limitless potential of youth always at the forefront of our minds, we can’t help but wonder what role education played in the revolution.

During the 30 years Hosni Mubarak ruled over Egypt, a group of young revolutionaries were born, educated, and ultimately empowered by their discontent. It was Egyptian youth who utilized the influence of social media – arguably one of their generation’s most innovative developments – to mobilize, grow and inspire the rest of the world. It was Egyptian youth who enlisted the support of their neighbors by shouting frustrations over a minimum wage that has remained largely unchanged for the majority of their lives. A country with over 80 million people was led to revolution by the initial efforts of less than 20 young professionals.

Egypt provides free education to its people, yet its economic system can’t create jobs fast enough, or sufficiently enough, to employ its brightest citizens. As the world watched the newly appointed Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman deliver Mubarak’s resignation today, countless Egyptian youth cheered a victory brought on by a people’s revolt.

Does education produce critical thinkers, independent minds, and vigilant members of society? Is revolution born out of wisdom, or simply desperation? Is the experience and insight of a culture’s elders sacrificed to the more vocal views of its young, or is it an inevitable shift as societies evolve?

One of the world’s oldest civilizations was transformed by the efforts of some of its youngest citizens. Regardless of political leaning or religious inclination, it’s difficult to deny the clear impact education has had on inspiring young people around the world to question the lives they are given, and oftentimes ask for more.

We only hope that education continues to produce thoughtful minds that value the power of knowledge, challenge the ideas they’re presented with, and conceive of their own unique dreams for a more just world.

Wendy Wegner is editor of educational content for 1 On 1 Academic Tutors.

This post was originally published in the 1 On 1 Academic Tutors blog found at www.1on1academictutors.com/blog