Being Highly Educated Doesn’t Always Mean Well Educated

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”, a famous line by Aristotle. It means that wisdom and character matter more than just academic achievement. If you are asked, how are you choosing the right person to be elected? Is it judging their educational background or based on their actions and policies? Many people would choose someone who is highly educated, but is it unfair if we just focus on their educational background? Rather, give more attention to their actions and policies.

During the Tejeros Convention, Emilio Aguinaldo became President because many revolutionaries valued his military victories and formal education, while Andrés Bonifacio, despite founding the Katipunan and sparking the revolution, was rejected partly because he lacked a college degree. It was not fair and was a narrow approach that, despite everything Andres Bonifacio did, people still did not recognize his good intentions. Andres Bonifacio has proved himself to be capable and can lead, beyond academic degrees. Andres Bonifacio has so much to give, but people ignored him just because he lacked education. The elites looked down upon Bonifacio and overlooked his real leadership and sacrifices. And in the end, people finally recognized Bonifacio as the first president; historians and politicians argued to acknowledge the first true national government and honor Bonifacio’s role as the “father of the Filipino nation”.

In today’s Philippines, I believe that formal education or having a college degree should be a prerequisite for politicians, as it serves as a foundation of knowledge, but it does not necessarily equate to competence in leadership. Being highly educated does not mean that he can be a good leader or that he will be an effective leader. In fact, there are numerous leaders throughout history who had no formal education. Abraham Lincoln, as the 16th president of the United States, he lacked formal schooling, but his leadership has impacted the nation until now. He has been regarded as one of the greatest leaders in history. The Philippine Constitution of 1987 states that one of the qualifications for running for positions of authority, including the presidency, is the ability to read and write. All Filipinos have equal rights, and anyone can run for politics or select a leader, which is the scourge of democracy. But being highly educated does not guarantee success in politics. Therefore, Filipinos should shift their attention based on the politicians’ actions and the impact they have on their community. Yes, it is important that politicians have a college degree, but being well educated is moreimportant.

True leadership is measured by more than just a formal education — it’s about principles, vision, and the ability to unite and lead and make a positive impact on his people. These principles cannot be taught in education, nor can being a good leader be learned at school. Being well educated means more than being highly educated. The leader that we need is a leader who is committed to making a difference in the world, whether he has a good educational background or not. We should not judge politicians solely on their degree but rather on their ability to serve people. Good leaders are seen through their actions and principles, not their diplomas.