How do you define education?

How do you define education?

By the number and level of qualifications you obtain?

By the prestige of the school you are able to attend?

Or by your ability to apply and use knowledge to achieve meaningful objectives?

Too often the field of education receives bad press and the teaching profession harsh criticism, and common thought and initiatives can tend towards completely revamping the system, one which admittedly been in place for many hundreds of years if not longer.

While I may be the first to advocate the need for more effective learning strategies and optimal learning techniques, I do not directly believe in a strategy of complete upheaval.

You see for change to be truly successful, it needs to be built on and take into account what is already familiar.

It should also never be question of throwing out the baby with the bath water.

So how do you define education? And how do you think we should implement change?