What do these refer to?

Hi~ In the following sentences underlined, what do you think the pronouns "they" and "it" refer to?

As for "they", students or educators?

And as for "it", "empathy"?

Thank you.

Education can fill the gap by helping students learn that the loss of
empathy is tantamount to losing their souls. They need to protect it to
comprehend the world at a deep and meaningful level. Without empathy,
they compromise the understanding of the spoken word. Most important,
empathy is the foundation of our ability to preserve mankind.