Meaning of Education

What is the meaning of “to educate”?

I believe that in order to answer this question we must ask for who?
For me, “to educate” means empowering human beings to be themselves and develop their full potential while respecting others as part of a community. We empower providing example, environments, situations, knowledge, tools and relationships that encourage the individual to think and analyze the situation, to explore, and develop a solution. We educate providing tools to allow others to make conscious decisions in life.
For many people “to educate” is the transference of knowledge, concepts, ideas that allow you to function in the world, to be productive and a valuable member of the society, to compete in a global economy. As stated in the book Education and the Soul: “The emphasis [of education] is primarily economic. Education in many cases has become a series of tests and hurdles rather than focusing on learning”. I personally agree with these statements.

In the words of John Dewey: “I believe that education is a process of living and not a preparation for future living”.