Bangalore: At the prestigious Edex Awards 2025 held at Vivanta by Taj, Bengaluru, Archbishop Peter Machado, Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), urged educators and stakeholders to view education not merely as a marketable commodity, but as a perennial value that shapes character, society, and the individual’s lifelong journey.
Speaking to a distinguished audience of educators, innovators, and thought leaders, Archbishop Machado reflected on the tension between the commercialization of education and its enduring purpose. “Education as a commodity is always marketable. It can be sold, popularized, even advertised,” he remarked. “But education as a value is something entirely different.” He highlighted that while modern tools, digital aids, and technological innovations captivate students and create engagement, these should not overshadow the deeper mission of education to nurture wisdom, ethics, and human values.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he reminded the audience of the timeless nature of learning: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow, but learn as if you were to live forever.” Archbishop Machado emphasized that knowledge imparted to students must be enduring, equipping them not just with skills, but with the ability to navigate life with discernment, empathy, and integrity.
He cautioned against superficial or hollow learning, stressing that “Education without character is as good as no education at all.” For him, true education must cultivate moral responsibility and personal growth, ensuring that students emerge not only as skilled individuals but as socially conscious citizens.
The Archbishop acknowledged the transformative role of technology in modern education but urged that it be harnessed responsibly. “Intelligence whether natural or artificial is always transferable,” he noted. “But if values can also be transferred and instilled, that would be the best outcome.” He reiterated that the ultimate goal of education should be to uplift communities, improve social conditions, and continually challenge both learners and educators to pursue meaningful knowledge.
Addressing educators directly, Archbishop Machado lauded their efforts as innovators and communicators of knowledge. “You bear a great responsibility not to make education merely a commodity, but a lasting value,” he said, underlining their critical role in shaping generations with both competence and conscience.
Concluding his address, Archbishop Machado extended his blessings and good wishes to all those engaged in the educational sphere, urging them to continue fostering a system where learning transcends transaction and becomes a guiding principle for life.
This address resonated as a timely reminder in an era where the allure of commercialization often threatens to eclipse the transformative and enduring essence of education.