Home > Education essays > Education in Developing Countries

Essay: Education in Developing Countries

Essay details and download:

  • Subject area(s): Education essays
  • Reading time: 7 minutes
  • Price: Free download
  • Published: 15 September 2019*
  • Last Modified: 22 July 2024
  • File format: Text
  • Words: 1,883 (approx)
  • Number of pages: 8 (approx)

Text preview of this essay:

This page of the essay has 1,883 words.

Education is the fundamental foundation of our lives. Aside from learning the basic subjects, school is also a place to build relationships, learn life skills and gain social and economical intelligence. Unfortunately, many people are not in reach of even basic education. Current statistics reveal that as of 2016 243 million children of primary age were out of school. With such high un-enrollment rates  developing countries are not progressing which is therefore stalling all of the other millenium goals. Although the enrollment rates have increased significantly in the past few decades this number is making the goal look unattainable. (Needs thesis)
Education in Developing Countries
Children in developing nations are subject to many barriers that put their educational right at risk. Everyday children in the world are being denied their right to basic education. According to Jean-Francois Tardif (2011), in 2011 “67 million school-aged children still do not have access to primary education” (p.1). This number has decreased by 19 million children since 2002. Although positive advancements have been made towards increasing education numbers, the current efforts may not be enough. In September of 2000, the United Nations created eight goals to be achieved by 2015. One of the eight goals introduced was “To achieve universal primary education.” This meaning that worldwide, boys and girls will have full access to a complete primary education. In 2008 a statistic released by the UN Department of Public Information (2008) stated that “58 out of the 86 countries that have not yet reached universal primary education will not achieve it by 2015 (p. 1). Completing the education goal would be momentous for the achievement of the other goals nations have created. Equal education for girls and boys would be beneficial towards gender equality. The United Nations along with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund and many more organizations have helped this movement tremendously. These groups have created different programs and initiatives to support universal education and female education. In 2017 the Government of Canada (2017) released an article that contains information regarding some of the barriers children face that keep them out of school, these included “distant, overcrowded or unsafe schools, poor quality of teaching, irrelevant curriculum and learning materials, the pressure for children to work to support the family, and lastly, school fees including uniform, and supplies that millions cannot afford” (p.2).  All of these are factors into why enrollment rates are so low. These restrictions are making it very difficult for children to obtain any source of education worldwide, but mainly in developing countries. As reported by Humanium (n.d.) “Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected area with over 32 million children primary school aged remaining uneducated. Central and Eastern Asia, as well as the Pacific, are also severely affected by this problem with more than 27 million uneducated children” (p.3). These countries specifically, are now having to solve other ongoing problems such as education poverty. Education poverty is when a child is receiving education for less than four years. In some cases countries are facing extreme education poverty where children are obtaining less than two years of education. This is very concerning for Sub-Saharan Africa in particular because more than half of children living there are only obtaining education for about an average of four years or less. (Wrap up)
How education will benefit developing Nations
Not only is education essential to the growth of youth worldwide, it is also a large factor in the development of expanding countries. If the education crisis can be combated worldwide the other sustainable development goals will begin to be achieved. Illiteracy rates in developing nations are too high and are slowing down the development of countries. Humanium (n.d.) also stated that “759 million adults are illiterate and do not have the awareness necessary to improve both their living conditions and those of their children (p.1).” Illiteracy makes these adults and parents incapable of better the living environments for them and their children. Educating these children properly while at a young age would greatly decrease illiteracy rates in children and adults. This creates a positive impact in community development. Learning decreases the amount of disease in these struggling countries. If children are infected with disease it restricts their learning capabilities. Programs like UNICEF have been trying to allocate vaccinations for children growing up in the developing world. An article from the UN Department of Public Information (2008)  suggests that “learning begins at birth and investing in quality early child care and development can substantially enhance children’s lifetime potential for educational achievement and learning” (p.4). Children growing up in these progressing nations would flourish faster if they had access to quality education and obtain full years learning.
Females should be educated equally to males
For centuries women have not been seen as equals compared to men. Educating women is a new phenomenon. It wasn’t until the early 1800’s and the Women’s Rights Movement that girls actually went to school. Recently nationwide many countries have strongly encouraged female education. However, in some places girls are still being held back or discouraged. It is a fact that out of the population of children that attend primary school in developing countries, a higher majority of those in attendance are male. In 2001 UNICEF (n.d.)  predicted “around 115 million children of primary school age, the majority of them girls, do no attend school” (p.1). Although this number has decreased and substantial progress has been made to find equality in schools females are still picking the short end of the straw when it comes to education. Although many may not realize, educating girls would be an active benefit. The Government of Canada (2017) wrote a piece about education in developing countries. It claims “girls who complete their primary education tend to find better jobs, marry later and have fewer children” (p.1). Women who have better placements in the workforce often are more protected and will be able to provide adequate support for their families compared to if they had a dangerous, lower-income job. When girls are not attending school they are more vulnerable to child marriage. Statistics prove that nearly 60% of women aged between 20-24 that did not receive an education found themselves married before the age of eighteen. Providing a structured learning environment for females and having them complete at least a full primary education would lessen their vulnerability which in turn would decrease the number of younger adolescent marriage. Additionally, if families find themselves at a shortage with money or need an extra set of hands around the house, usually females are removed from the school setting before males. Due to this, achieving equal education is much harder. Today the countries facing the largest gender gap are schools in the Arab States and Central, Southern and Western parts of Asia. Humanium (n.d.) also provides the reason for being a result of  “cultural and traditional privileged treatment given to males” (p.3). Until the world comes to realize that girls are entitled and deserve equivalent rights, this goal will not be met.
Is Education a Human Right
In many nations, especially in the developing world, people seem to believe that education is a choice. Author of Children’s Rights: Canada, Clark, S (2012) affirmed that  “all students are entitled to virtually free elementary and secondary education in Canada” (p.1). Not only is education a privilege, it is also mandatory for students to under the age of sixteen to attend school when living as a resident in Canada. In some cases, fines will be issued towards parents who fail to enroll their child in school. In contrast to this, few people are blind to the fact that education is a human right. Although this fact may be ignored in parts of the world, children have a right to quality education. Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights written by the Draft Committee (1948) article 26 declared:
“Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory… Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendships among all nations, racial and religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace” (p.7).
Therefore, anybody, developing nation or developed nation has the right to receive an adequate education. Furthermore, everybody deserves a full primary education, if not secondary as well. Not only are children worldwide entitled to education the Declaration of Human Rights explains that it is mandatory. Evidently achieving universal education is not going to happen overnight, however, the world and its residents need to recognize that discriminating and keeping children from their educational right is wrong and needs to be put to an end.
What actions need to be taken/possible solutions?
Various organizations and communities have joined forces to address the main problems and proposed possible solutions. Even though these constant efforts have produced some results, nothing will really change until all nations are in agreement and willing to participate. Borden Magazine published a piece on potential resolutions to improve the education in developing countries. Author Liliana Rehorn (2017) suggests five solutions; these being: decreasing or eliminating education costs, introducing meal programs, enlightening and teaching parents, create an advanced education model and lastly, enhance resources for the teachers. Despite the fact that enrollment rates need to increase the quality of education also needs to as well. Abolishing school fees will help poorer families send their children to school. In her research Rehorn (2018) found that “enrollment increased by 12 percent in Ghana, 18 percent in Kenya, 23 in Ethiopia and 51 percent in Malawi after the abolition of school fees.” These fees include the actual education but are accompanied by the cost of supplies, uniforms and many others. Feeding children while at school will provide many benefits for the child’s overall health but will also increase their learning capacity. If malnourished children are less likely to retain information and engage in learning. Additionally, approximately 759 million adults are illiterate. Because of this, parents are unable to provide any educational assistance to their adolescent. Offering education to adults will in turn help educate children. The current education model is not sufficient for the changes that need to be administered. A new education structure would need to incorporate learning but also include other components. For example, practicing leadership, teamwork and critical thinking will provide life skills these kids can use in the future. In order to provide a suitable means of education teachers need to have the proper teachings and resources to do so. In some progressing nations the educators are uneducated which creates poor learning and an insufficient environment. Technology would be a great advancement to the learning programs in every nation. Once actions are taken and further advances are made school enrollment rates will continue to increase at a higher rate. Unfortunately until changes begin things will not change.
In conclusion, combating the current education crisis is not impossible but until positive progressions are made the goal is still out of reach. It needs to be recognized that everyone is entitled to education. Children in all countries need to be given equal opportunities and have the access to education. Once enrollment rates increase and more children are in attendance the other seven millenium goals will begin/continue  to flourish.

About this essay:

If you use part of this page in your own work, you need to provide a citation, as follows:

Essay Sauce, Education in Developing Countries. Available from:<https://www.essaysauce.com/education-essays/2018-5-2-1525222136/> [Accessed 05-10-25].

These Education essays have been submitted to us by students in order to help you with your studies.

* This essay may have been previously published on EssaySauce.com and/or Essay.uk.com at an earlier date than indicated.