The meaning of the term priority is to value matters or issues more than others. In every one of our lives there are so many things or work to do and to accomplish. But please notice that the works that we have are not the same important at all in terms of implementing or accomplishing each work. There are some works very important and must be needed and even unavoidable but some are not. So, we have to do a certain thing which is much more important than others. To understand the term or word priority here. Please allow me to explain it briefly. For example, we are 3 in the battle. Unfortunately one of our friends died by a bullet shot and another friend was shot in his ear and was bleeding. Now what should I do? Which one or to whom should I give more priority? In this case, of course! I have to give priority to the one who was shot in his ear. Because he is still alive and I can expect him to be healed or else. Though both are important, I should give more priority to the one who is alive. This is what we call “priority”.
Then what would be the priority for us? What I have in my mind Education is the priority that we need to understand and pay attention to. As a people or nation of today’s world, our priority should be education. Without education, we cannot expect good results in the future. Education gives a nation knowledge and foresightedness. It removes the ignorance of a man and enables him to distinguish the dark and the bright side of things. So, education is indispensable for the Bawm tribe. In a day of vast and sweeping changes, seemingly the Bawms no longer regard education as important as other nations highly value it. Of course, the reason may occur for our social-economic downwardness.
Out of many inescapable reasons I would like to suggest two reasons why we need to prioritize education.
A) People need it.
B) The Current situation requires it.
Before we get to the point, let’s see about the Bawm community education history or journey.
In the year 1992, the 1st missionary opened a day school which was developed by the tireless effort of Rev. Kualthang (who is the 1st educated among the Bawmzos) sponsored by the North East India General Mission Inc. USA at Pankhiang village. British India then (now Rowangchari Upazilla. Bandarban Hill District). That Pankhiang village missionary school was the first school for the Bawmzo people in the Bawmzo village. Then many Bawmzo boys and girls had passed classes one, two, three, four, and five from Pankhiang village missionary school.
As time went by, the school became an important educational center for the Bawmzos and brought many positive changes and progress to the people of Bawmzo. There are three Junior High Schools in the Bawmzos villages. At Kana Residential (Keukro Tlang) Junior High School at Keukro hill. Remakri Prancha, Ruma Upazilla, Munnuam village MAB Junior High School (MAB is composed of 3 villages namely- Munnuam. Artlah, and Basatlang), and at Laimi, Chimbuk Junior High School. The schools are run with the support of different mission donors Local Government Councils and other Organizations. At the same time, there are about one or two primary schools in each Bawmzo village. The organizations helped the students by providing tuition fees, stipends, and other. Many primary and high school students can complete their primary and Junior High School education at the said schools. Today numerous students of the Bawmzos are attending different high schools, especially in Ruma, Bandarban, and elsewhere. But regrettably today the schools (both primary and Junior Schools) no longer received any monetary support from the said organizations. Therefore, it’s run by the parents
and other local contributions. Meanwhile, the percentage of literacy rate among the Bawmzos is gradually increasing, and many boys and girls are studying in colleges. Some boys and girls drop out of their studies due to poor economic conditions and other social reasons. The Bawmzos are now conscious of the importance of education. They try their level best to educate their children as much as possible. A small number of them have taken higher education also.
A) People need it: In this modern era (21st century) education is indispensable in many aspects. Today wherever we find mature, well-balanced, and well-organized we know that behind their development lies some effective education and well training programs. But to gain these there is no quick, easy, or smooth rather it must be developed by a long process, slow. and even sometimes it’s painful.
Beyond the basic need for social adaptation, every person has at least three broad needs to which his social and moral life must be effective. So, the first of these is a continuous vital relationship with society. This outcome is not habitual. Sometimes social and religious leaders, and workers. Parents and students wonder why certain individuals who have joined social and moral activities become indifferent to their social responsibilities and fall into careless and unworthy conduct. In this case. In many instances the failure lies in a lack of proper education. Since we do not have proper education we fail to teach and train the people in such a way as to help them remain faithful to society and the people. A second need is for true personhood in life. We cannot make and train a person if we are not self-assured and well absorbed in a particular issue. Therefore, it is impossible to fully expect his/her pre-understanding and knowledge of what he could do. He must be trained and taught by a good and well-educated person. He must be continually transformed by renewing his mind with dependable sources of knowledge. A third need is growing in the manner of true human experiences. In this case, the family should be primarily the center of all learning.
B) Current situation requires it: Social, moral and spiritual conditions in today’s world urgently call for proper education for the individual and for society. This education program must be relevant to contemporary needs. Unless our education becomes more effective in leading people to the right direction we may lose our existence in today’s world. Our literacy abounds in social and moral achievements. We the Bawms are not competent yet with other groups of people even (out of 11 indigenous tribal groups) in the Hill Tracts due to lack of proper education.
So, in regard to this we should give much priority on education, as was written “Education is the backbone of a nation” to stand among the nations the word education is indispensable. It is true that proper education will not solve all of our problems immediately, but the conditions we face in today’s world demand proper educated person to lead and provide genuine thoughts over all activities.