“…in countries outside the Asia-Pacific region, where Hindus are a small religious minority, they are much more highly educated – and often are the most highly educated religious group in a particular country”, according to a global “demographic study” by Pew Research Center (PRC), a nonpartisan fact tank headquartered in Washington DC.
“…Hindus in the United States have 15.7 years of schooling, on average – a full year more than the next most highly educated U.S. religious group (Jews), and nearly three years more than the average American adult (12.9 years). Hindus in Europe also are highly educated, averaging 13.9 years of schooling”; this study, titled “Religion and Education Around the World” and posted on December 13, adds.
The study, however, notes: “Jews are more highly educated than any other major religious group around the world…”.
“…in sub-Saharan Africa, 93% of Hindus have at least some formal schooling – far higher than the share of non-Hindus in sub-Saharan Africa with some education (59%)…nearly all Hindus in North America, Europe and the Latin America-Caribbean region have received at least some schooling…in North America and Europe, majorities of Hindus (87% and 57%, respectively) have a post-secondary education”, it points out.
It further states: Hindus have made substantial educational gains in recent decades. Hindu adults (ages 25 and older) in the youngest generation analyzed in the study, for example, have an average of 3.4 more years of schooling than those in the oldest generation… Hindus, starting from a relatively low base, have made some of the most rapid educational gains of any religious group…Over three recent generations, the share of Hindus with at least some formal schooling rose by 28 percentage points… Hindus have substantially narrowed the gender gap in primary schooling…
The study indicates: Hindu adults worldwide also have made large gains in the share that have some formal schooling… The share of Hindus with post-secondary degrees has increased steadily across generations at the global level… In the United States, more than 95% of Hindus in all three generations have post-secondary degrees.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, commending the worldwide Hindu community for making overall gains on education front, urged them; particularly in India, Nepal and Bangladesh; to even push more for higher levels of educational attainment and more years of formal schooling and make further gains in women education, thus reducing the gender education gap further.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, encouraged Hindus to continue with the traditional values of hard work, higher morals, stress on education, sanctity of marriage, etc.; amidst so many distractions.
Rajan Zed advised Hindus to focus on inner search, stay pure, explore the vast wisdom of scriptures, make spirituality more attractive to youth and children, stay away from the greed, and always keep God in the life.
Source : From Our Correspondent
