As schools across England and Wales return from their summer holidays – with thousands entering the education system for the first time in their young lives – I am reminded of the words of a wonderful Sri Lankan friend of mine.
“All this killing is being led and supported by extremely well educated and highly cultured people,” he said.
He was not taking sides in his country’s war. He was bearing witness to a society being dismembered despite having some of the highest social indicators, including education, anywhere in Asia.
His words have haunted me. Education in itself is not necessarily a guarantee of civilization.
Click here to read the rest of this next article in my series for Huffington Post UK, leading up to Awake in the World in London. The festival begins September 12!
From: From our President