A Poor Future

A Poor Future

     Every day at school I always hear people say, “I wish I am home” or “I could be watching Netflix right now”. Some people would rather spend time on their phones, sleep, or party with their friends. Why is it that a percentage of kids don’t seize their opportunities to learn, while twenty-three million children are forced under the minimum learning threshold due to dire circumstances (Watkins)? Many people don’t realize how lucky they are to have advanced technology and good resources. Countless kids in Africa don’t even have designated buildings for school, let alone find reliable teachers.
     The amount of poverty in Africa is outrageous. Being the poorest continent in the world, forty-nine percent of the children in sub-Saharan Africa live in extreme poverty, and it is home to fifty-one percent of the world’s poorest children (Hodal). Furthermore, South Africa ranks seventy-fifth out of seventy-six in a league table of education systems drawn by the OECD, which is the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (Economist). This shows us that poverty strongly and negatively affects the schooling systems in Africa.
     While Africa is rapidly developing, it will come to a sudden halt when the working force becomes the young generations who are currently not receiving the adequate educations. The International Mathematics and Science Study reveals that South Africa is at the bottom of the test results (Economist). Their limited knowledge will reduce their job opportunities and thus, affect the economic growth of the country, as well as increasing their chances of staying in poverty.
     According to William H, Parrett, a director who works to improve poverty, and Kathleen M. Budge, a woman whose research focuses on poverty and rural education, they state that being in poverty affects education in multiple ways. Impoverished families can’t afford food or medical services. Kids become susceptible to diseases and malnutrition, which disrupts physical and cognitive development. Families also may not have the funds to pay for educational resources, such as textbooks. This makes learning more restricted because kids don’t have the necessary resources to learn. Parents in poor families likely have basic educations, and their children hear a limited number of words with small complexity, and this makes it difficult for them to acquire new and harder words. (Budge-Parrett). Poverty oppresses development and learning opportunities. Justin Forsyth, UNICEF’s deputy executive director, states that “poverty can kill you or limit your potential” (Hodal).
     Not only will poverty affect the educations of many, but it will furthermore affect the growth of the country and keep families trapped in destitution. It is estimated that around sixty-one million African children will become adolescents with the inability to read or even count. Once the time comes for them to search for jobs, their opportunities are capped because of the little knowledge they have; this denies a whole generation the possibilities of expanding their potential and escaping poverty (Watkins). Educating the population is necessary to equip the people with skills required for jobs and innovation, which all leads to the economic growth and the development of Africa.
     Other countries are attempting to help the education and poverty crisis in Africa. UNICEF and the World Bank are advising governments to include children in poverty reduction plans to decrease inadequate education, healthcare, and nutrition (Hodal). Collaboration schools will help improve education in the Western Cape. SPARK schools are being established around Africa as low-cost schools so more pupils can attend and receive educations (Economist). Ultimately, it will take much team effort, support, and funding from other organizations and governments to help those in Africa escape poverty and prepare them for the future.

Works Cited

Economist, The. “South Africa Has One of the World's Worst Education Systems.” The Economist, The Economist, 7 Jan. 2017, www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21713858-why-it-bottom-class-south-africa-has-one-worlds-worst-education Accessed Aug. 2018.

Hodal, Kate. “Nearly Half All Children in Sub-Saharan Africa in Extreme Poverty, Report Warns.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 4 Oct. 2016, www.theguardian.com/globaldevelopment/2016/oct/05/nearly-half-all-children-sub-saharan-africa-exteme-poverty-unicef-world-bank-report-warns Accessed June 2018.

Parrett, William H, and Kathleen M. Budge. “How Does Poverty Influence Learning? .” Edutopia, Edutopia, 13 Jan. 2016, www.edutopia.org/blog/how-does-poverty-influence-learning-william-parrett-kathleen-budge Accessed Dec. 2018. 

Watkins, Kevin. “Too Little Access, Not Enough Learning: Africa's Twin Deficit in Education.” Brookings, Brookings, 16 Jan. 2013, www.brookings.edu/opinions/too-little-access-not-enough-learning-africas-twin-deficit-in-education/ Accessed Dec. 2018.