When the Clock of Education Stops
The challenges facing humanity today—climate crisis, unending conflicts, and poverty—are by no means simple. The power of law and technology alone is not enough to fully resolve these complex problems. The most fundamental solution ultimately lies in education, which changes the way people think and instills sound values.
However, the harsh reality does not even allow this basic solution. According to the latest report by UNESCO, approximately 250 million children and adolescents worldwide are living in conditions where they cannot even attend school. [1]
This goes beyond a mere lack of learning opportunities. It means that countless young people are exposed to poverty and social risks without even the time or space to prepare for their future. Recent international developments starkly reveal this tragedy. In the Gaza Strip, Palestine, where armed conflict continues, many schools have been destroyed or turned into shelters. Students have lost their classrooms and are forced to worry about survival instead of their studies. [2]
The situation in Afghanistan is equally grave. Following political changes, secondary education for girls has been restricted, depriving millions of girls of their right to learn. In the absence of schools, serious human rights concerns such as child labor and early marriage are growing. [3]
Ultimately, the absence of education creates blind spots in human rights.
Young people who lack basic education struggle to defend their rights and to build a foundation for independence as members of society. This is no longer just a welfare issue—it is a matter of survival and human rights that humanity must urgently address.
International Day of Education and the Role of Youth
Against this global backdrop, the International Day of Education (January 24), established by the United Nations, carries special significance. In December 2018, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 73/25, proclaiming the International Day of Education to emphasize the role of education in peace and development. Led by UNESCO, this day reaffirms that education is not a privilege for the few, but a fundamental human right and a shared public responsibility. [4]
Of particular note is the 2026 theme: “The power of youth in co-creating education.” [5]
This theme reflects a new global perspective—viewing young people not as passive recipients of instruction, but as active agents of change. In an era of rapid technological and social transformation, future education can gain real momentum only when youth step forward as co-creators, directly designing and innovating educational systems.
The message of the International Day of Education is clear. Education is not merely the transmission of knowledge within school walls. It is a social consensus—the most reliable means to break cycles of poverty, reduce inequality, and ultimately build a more peaceful world. Now is the time to move beyond limiting the agents of education to formal institutions alone and turn our attention to youth as a new driving force.
Students Stepping Beyond the Classroom
This “role of youth” is no longer just rhetoric; it is taking shape through concrete action. The activities of ASEZ, a university student volunteer group, offer a representative example of what becomes possible when young people move beyond being objects of education to becoming its subjects. Drawing on what they learn in classrooms, these students travel to educational sites around the world to share solutions to crime and environmental issues.
The first example is the RCT (Reduce Crime Together) School, a character education program aimed at preventing crime through mature civic awareness. University students visit elementary, middle, and high schools to discuss with students the importance of respecting human rights and caring for others. The program has been conducted 32 times across 7 countries, including Dasmariñas Integrated High School (Philippines), BINE High School (Mexico), and Narayan Rao Genba Moze School (India), reaching a total of 3,641 students. The message that prevention matters more than punishment was delivered in ways accessible to students.
The second initiative is the “Carbon-Free School.” Its core aim is to help future generations understand both their right to a clean environment and their responsibility to protect it. Instead of passively listening to one-way lectures, students take part in problem-based learning (PBL), where they identify sources of carbon emissions within their schools and explore practical solutions themselves. In addition, through seminars and forums, this initiative has been conducted 27 times across 6 countries, engaging a total of 4,125 students and providing an opportunity for them to become active agents of environmental protection.
These ASEZ initiatives demonstrate that knowledge gains true, living power only when it crosses the threshold of the classroom. The tangible outcomes recorded through ASEZ’s efforts stand as clear evidence that future generations are growing into “active intellectuals” who help build a safer and more sustainable world.
Education: The Most Powerful Weapon to Change the World
Nelson Mandela once declared, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” As his insight suggests, proper education holds the potential to transform prejudice into understanding and hatred into coexistence.
On the International Day of Education, this is where our attention should rest. True learning is not confined to library shelves. As seen in the examples of university students above, when knowledge meets real-world challenges and leads to concrete action, education finally gains the power to change the world. The key to changing the reality in which 250 million children cannot attend school—and to solving challenges such as climate crisis and crime—ultimately lies in those who act.
Now, we must move beyond being mere recipients of knowledge and become agents who use that knowledge as a tool to design a better future. In an era where simply “what you know” is no longer enough, what we need is the courage to ask, “How will we act?” and to put that answer into practice. This is the final challenge that January 24, the International Day of Education, places before us.