Education, Education, Education.

Of course,when people see education x 3 as written here, they think of Tony Blair. As Labour planned its campaign to oust the Tories, education was placed at the very heart of their manifesto. Education, claimed  Blair would be his top three priorities for government. I, for one, was delighted. When in May 1997, Blair's party became the party of government and Blair himself, Prime Minister, people (except Tories) were euphoric. It felt momentous, a new dawn was upon us. Bambi, as Blair was nicknamed when he first came to prominence, was now our PM. 'Things can only get better', indeed. We were on our way.

And then...It was Iraq that did it for Blair. It began in March 2003, the mission ostensibly being to remove Saddam Hussein from his dictatorship of Iraq. Millions marched in protest in an attempt to change Blair's mind, but, as the story goes, Blair would follow Bush. Nothing and noone would change his mind. To war we went. SHOCK and AWE was the result.We saw millions and millions of pounds used up in weapons that could well have been spent on education.

After health, education is the most important responsibility of government. Without education we are barbarians; uncivilised and ignorant. Education brings about understanding, empathy and tolerance. It is of the greatest importance. If education were truly universal perhaps we would be nearer to world peace.

To illustrate the importance of education, on a very microscopic stage, I would like to use the example of this academic year's evening class. They were a mixed group in terms of ethnic origin. There was a woman from Kenya, one for Malawi and one from Namibia. The men were variously from Nigeria, Angola, Egypt and Zimbabwe. Included in the group was a man of Pakistani origin. The rest were from South Yorkshire, mainly Sheffield. For some of the South Yorkshire people, they were originally a little wary of their 'foreign' counterparts. Not hostile exactly, but just a little on edge. That sense of minor anxiety swiftly evaporated as each person told his/her story. Friendships were formed between people who would never have imagined they would have such a friendship.

One member of the class said he needed the English GCSE qualification but that he was not at all keen on Shakespeare. Shakespeare was our third assignment. The time had come. Romeo and Juliet was our set text.

At the end of the assignment, he actually said he'd enjoyed it and admitted that it was fear that made him unwilling to give it a go.

Now it is the last class. I walked in and there on the teacher's desk was a beautiful miniature rose tree. The ex-Shakespeare cynic came forward and told me the rose was from him.'Thank you very much I said, so kind. Thank you.'
'Nay,' he said, 'Don't you go thanking me. It's me what should be thanking you. So, thank you very  much for opening my mind.' Job done.