A politician having no capability to read and understand laws may be unable to take proper decisions on regular basis. It is not good for the country, but common in many developing countries.”

Many of us will agree that Yes, our political leaders should be educated and have some necessary etiquette too. But making one’s level of education mandatory is equally contradictory to the basic democratic principles of equal opportunities.

• In a democracy, like ours, each and every individual has the right to vote (after aged 18) and no vote counts more than the other. Even though people are of course not equal (no equal opportunities and such), when it comes to law and political participation the vote of a poor person counts as much as that of one who is rich, the vote of a woman as much as that of a man and that of an uneducated as much as that of an educated person. Intelligence of a person might be supported by education and education might come with wealth and social status of family, but that does not mean that those who were not able to finance higher education are less intelligent and capable than those that enjoyed it.
• The same goes for chances to be elected. How could you deny people who by chance had no way to get a higher education the right to be elected? If only the rich and those of social high standing were elected it would defeat the purpose of a democracy.

While some argue that a good leader is one with impeccable academic qualifications, others say one doesn’t need a degree to serve the people. If put through the lens of history, then history justifies the two arguments differently. Some of the most atrocious, corrupt and incompetent politicians the world has ever seen have university education. Others didn’t.

I would like to expressly support all those who attach importance to the best possible education in the exercise of high political office and regard this as a prerequisite for taking up office because politics is a field that demands effective administrative skills.

Secondly, one should have a minimum knowledge about the country’s different dimensions including it’s culture, geography, law and order and so on. This itself implies the importance of quality education.

In this country unfortunately, we have witnessed reports where qualification are purchased. Ever heard of fake certificates?

We know that a lot of politicians nowadays are chosen because of MUSCLE and MONEY. Family background and the economic status of a person has propelled majority of voters to choose their leaders. And where such decisions have been made, democratically so, we have seen such members being incapable of formulating formidable legislation, or initiating debates and motions.

But academic qualification doesn’t guarantee productive political leadership either. Does it?

It sure would be desirable if all politicians had degrees, because education plays an important role in one’s life. As the same way, politics plays an important role in any country, thus anyone desiring the political office should be wearing the coat of knowledge along with personality.