Archive for category: Education

Information and stories on education.

,

Higher Education in Namibia: Overcoming Development Hurdles

Higher Education in NamibiaThe Republic of Namibia is a Southern African nation, regarded by the World Bank as an “upper-middle-income country.” Yet according to UNICEF’s 2021 Poverty Index Report, more than 43.3% of the population lives in multidimensional poverty.

Problems Facing Namibia

Namibia has been rebuilding itself since gaining independence from South Africa in 1990. It has made progress in reducing poverty, yet strong challenges persist that continue to hinder development. Namibia has been rated one of the world’s most unequal countries, with its Gini coefficient coming in at 59.1 in 2015, second only to South Africa.

Its geographical disparities, in terms of access to services as well as wealth and economic opportunities, are significant. Much of the population, especially in rural regions, relies on the agricultural sector for their income. These incomes are unstable and unsustainable, given the nation’s susceptibility to droughts, extreme weather and food scarcity. This limits the earning potential of many Namibians.

The wealth inequality creates difficulties in accessing basic necessities, such as education. This creates a vicious cycle where opportunity is limited by a lack of skilled workers, creating high unemployment, hindering overall development and job creation. Therefore, education is crucial in breaking the nation’s poverty cycle and is identified as an optimistic solution to creating sustainable growth.

Looking Forward

Newly elected President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has begun her leadership by introducing a National Development Plan (NDP6). The plan outlines five key areas of focus, including modernizing industrial infrastructure and promoting new technologies, to improve employment opportunities amid an unemployment crisis among the nation’s younger, working-age population.

A major aspect of achieving the NDP6’s employment and opportunity objectives focuses on higher education in Namibia. In her State of the Nation speech to Parliament, Ndaitwah outlined that “tertiary education will become 100% subsidized by the government…commencing 2026.” Namibia already provides free public elementary and high school education; the new policy would remove tuition and registration fees at universities and colleges.

The NDP6 also aims to create 80,000 new manufacturing jobs by 2030. These jobs would create demand for skilled workers produced by higher-education initiatives, in sectors such as technology, energy, infrastructure and logistics. The increase in manufacturing employment would bolster opportunities and raise average wages in the industry from N$5,749 (approximately $327) to N$10,000 ($568).

The emphasis on manufacturing is projected to increase the sector’s share of the country’s GDP from 10.6% to 18%, while boosting its contribution to exports from 42% to 60%. This shifts the nation’s reliance away from the unpredictability of the agricultural sector. It creates a skilled workforce that can continue to generate opportunities, expand their companies and stimulate long-term economic growth.

The nation’s GDP growth would also enhance Namibia’s global competitiveness and trading relations. It points to an optimistic future for a nation that has shown steady improvements since independence, despite post-pandemic disruptions. Education offers a constructive path to change.

Organizations Aiding the Progress

The optimism is supported by the foundational work of nonprofit organizations that are improving access to higher education in Namibia. The University of Namibia Foundation (UNAM) has formed strategic partnerships with the University of Namibia, generating a N$15 million (about $855,000) seed fund to enhance educational research and innovation over the next three years.

UNAM also collaborated with Namibia Asset Management (NAM) to provide more than N$4.7 million ($273,600) in bursaries, with recipients advancing to professional roles across various developing sectors.

Conclusion

Higher education is emerging as Namibia’s key to breaking the cycle of poverty and inequality. With government-backed tuition subsidies, strategic investment in manufacturing and support from nonprofit organizations, the nation is building a skilled workforce. This workforce will be capable of driving sustainable economic growth and fostering long-term development.

– Mia Keen

Mia is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Education Crisis in Haiti: Poverty and Violence Threaten Education

Education Crisis in Haiti: How Poverty and Violence Threaten Children’s EducationHaiti is facing a worsening crisis as violence continues to displace more than a million Haitians into tent cities. Armed groups now control an estimated 85% of Port-au-Prince, driving a record 1.3 million people from their homes in just six months, a 24% increase since December 2024, per the International Organization for Migration (IOM). More than half of those displaced—approximately 700,000—are children. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reports that the number of internally displaced children has jumped by nearly 50% since September 2024, equating to one in eight children nationwide. 

The future of Haiti’s youth hangs in limbo as schools have become fragile lifelines; some have transformed into shelters, while others are completely rundown, cutting countless children from the classrooms they once knew. Amid the education crisis in Haiti, however, a wave of grassroots initiatives and community-led action is pushing back with hope.

A Crisis of Scale and Impact

The United Nations (U.N.) estimates that 5.4 million Haitians are facing crisis-level hunger, with 5,636 people already in catastrophic famine conditions. The World Food Programme (WFP) is urgently appealing for $46 million to sustain emergency operations targeting 2 million people, including half a million children relying on school meals—a critical lifeline now at risk. At the same time, the U.N.’s 2025 humanitarian appeal for Haiti remains underfunded, with only 9.2% of its $900 million goal met.

The State of Education

More than 1,600 schools have closed in Haiti, a 60% increase in just four months—disrupting learning for more than 243,000 children. In the West and Artibonite regions, nearly 1,000 schools have shut down, impacting 300,000 students. Meanwhile, in the Grand South, the arrival of 103,000 displaced school-aged children overwhelmed the education systems. Plan International reports that more than 90% of displaced children in the South and Southeast—where 260,000 people sought refuge—have lost access to education.

Henry Noel, a volunteer of buildOn, a nonprofit that partners with rural communities to build schools and promote literacy, spoke with The Borgen Project, saying, “Right now, the education crisis in Haiti is unlike anything we’ve seen in years. Violence in Port-au-Prince has forced millions of people from their homes and almost half a million of those are children. Many of them were already out of school and the violence has only made things worse. Entire schools have been attacked or destroyed—I think about 300 schools [in the capital] were shut down because of the violence.”

Rising to the Challenge in Rural Communities

By early 2025, an estimated one million Haitians had been displaced by escalating gang violence. Many of these families fled to rural towns—places they once considered safe havens. Yet this mass migration has overburdened local schools, with large waves of out-of-school children arriving all at once. Noel states, “For the families who fled, especially into rural areas, schools are overwhelmed. We see classrooms with twice as many students as they were built for. Children who missed one or two years of lessons are trying to catch up, often without books, without supplies, sometimes even without shoes to walk the long distance to class. It’s devastating.”

Amid the education crisis in Haiti, buildOn—a nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through education—has stepped up its efforts to rebuild hope and access to learning. BuildOn is an international nongovernmental organization (NGO) that brings education to rural areas, supporting displaced families. In 2024, it built a new school in Journu, serving 285 students—150 of whom were previously out of school.

Enroll Program

Its Enroll program provides accelerated learning, supplies, meals and community engagement to restore educational access quickly. “Through Enroll, we go into the communities, identify children who are not in school and create a plan with their families and teachers to bring them back. We provide accelerated learning for those who fell behind, school supplies like notebooks and pencils and even meals in some cases.” 

Speaking on how buildOn is responding to the crisis, Noel said, “buildOn’s work is focused on two main areas: building safe schools in rural communities and helping out-of-school children re-enter the education system. Last year, for example, we built a new school in Journu, a rural community that received many displaced families. That school now serves about 285 students, 150 of whom had dropped out because of violence or poverty. For us, it’s not just about the building—it’s about giving those children a safe place where they can be children again.”

Building Hope Brick by Brick

Against the backdrop of a collapsing state, scorched schools and displaced millions, there remains a lifeline in classrooms carried on shoulders, songs played on guitars and books passed hand to hand. “The resilience of Haitian children and families is truly beautiful to witness. Despite everything, when we open a new school, the joy is incredible. Parents show up to help lay bricks, students are eager to learn, teachers are determined to keep going even when conditions are hard,” Noel said.

Where schools continue to teach, poetry fills the air and hands learn to stitch or strum, hope—and Haiti’s next generation—endures. As Noel concluded, “Don’t forget the children of Haiti. Every child deserves the chance to learn, no matter the circumstances. And even in the hardest times, education is possible—if we come together to make it happen.”

– Meagan Beaver

Meagan is based in Zephyrhills, FL, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

, ,

Higher Education in the DRC

Higher Education in the DRCHistorically, political turmoil in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has contributed to the country’s higher education gap, which persists today. Militant activity connected to the rebel group M23 has resurged since November 2021. Efforts to meet the urgent needs of the 1.2 million people displaced by violence in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu alone have taken the place of addressing disparities in higher education.

Despite recent efforts to make education equally available, bridging this gap for rural populations, low-income families and disabled and female students remains largely on the back burner. Here’s a look at the complex factors influencing higher education as a goal for all Congolese students and the path forward to make this a reality.

The DRC’s Educational Landscape

Barriers to higher education can be traced back to the DRC’s colonial period, when education was distributed exclusively to the elite class. Today, this trend manifests as an educational gender gap. In 2020, for instance, only 8% of Congolese men enrolled in tertiary education, while this figure was a mere 5% for Congolese women. Meanwhile, the DRC has one of the youngest populations, with more than 60% of people younger than 25.

The country’s lack of educational resources poses the risks associated with an under-skilled workforce, such as high youth unemployment and economic instability. Still, from 2010 to 2024, the number of Congolese children enrolled in secondary education increased from 2.3 million to 7.5 million. With such demographics, demand for education in the DRC is predictably high, yet enrollment in higher education doesn’t reflect this.

While overall enrollment in schooling for Congolese children has shown progress, the marginal number of students able to afford higher education reveals a systematic disparity between educational demand and resource availability. As a result, future adults with less education will become vulnerable to the same financial instability that withheld them from pursuing higher education.

Factors Affecting Higher Education in the DRC

A significant correlation exists between the quality of health and the attained level of education. UNESCO considers the expected health and the attained schooling that Congolese children will receive in their lifetimes and currently estimates these children will only achieve 37% of their full potential. The DRC’s low yield in tertiary school enrollment is reflected in its low funding for educational resources, with only 2.3% of the country’s GDP invested in the education sector.

Additionally, as civil unrest displaces families, funds once set aside for higher education are instead diverted to cover food, shelter and other basic needs. Rural communities, already lacking infrastructure, remain cut off from adequate educational services, widening the resource gap between urban and rural students. In these same areas, violence often disrupts schooling, while the limited educational materials the Congolese government can distribute are stretched especially thin.

In 2019, the DRC attempted an educational reform to make free schooling equally accessible nationwide. However, many parents continued paying teacher salaries themselves. Particularly in large cities, families have struggled to sustain education through out-of-pocket payments. In contrast, higher education often remains under-resourced and staffed by undertrained teachers. Congolese teachers have gone unpaid, raising concerns that federal funds meant to improve educational quality are not reaching students as intended.

Who Is Without Access to Educational Opportunity?

While the DRC’s poor infrastructure affects all students, higher education remains disproportionately inaccessible for women because of deep-rooted cultural and social barriers. The gender gap in higher education enrollment is narrowing, yet high fertility rates and cultural pressure for early marriage compound disadvantages for women. For those who do not complete secondary school, the likelihood of marrying young and bearing children is nearly twice as high as that of their peers.

Driving Access to Higher Education

While solutions like free education can be achieved, a community-based approach is necessary to compensate for the gaps preventing Congolese youth from pursuing higher education. On a structural level, reforming the education system could produce a more relevant curriculum to better equip Congolese students for success in the workforce. Still, the need remains to eliminate social, financial and political barriers deterring students from higher education.

The DRC’s government institutions must also do their part to distribute educational resources equitably. In the meantime, the World Bank is one organization spearheading educational funding in the DRC. In 2024, the World Bank helped channel $67 million from the Global Partnership for Education to the DRC to stock classrooms, support disabled students and advance girls’ secondary education.

While external funding doesn’t promise a permanent solution for higher education in the DRC, it does set an agenda as the country continues to navigate systemic reform on behalf of its current and future students.

– Isla Hansen

Isla is based in Spokane, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

, ,

How Mobile Libraries Fight Poverty Through Global Literacy Access

Mobile LibrariesMobile libraries are breaking barriers to education and aiding in the fight against poverty in underserved regions. From floating schools in Bangladesh to digital hubs in Ukraine, these initiatives prove that literacy is a powerful tool to fight poverty and build resilience.

Floating School Boats and Libraries in Bangladesh

Operating 111 floating school boats and libraries, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha in Bangladesh serves more than 100,000 people in flood-prone areas. These boats do more than carry books; they are also equipped with solar-powered technology and classrooms, allowing for the assurance of the continuation of education during floods.

Each vessel teaches lessons in literacy, mathematics and other more specific topics like environmental awareness. In countries where flooding can disrupt thousands, innovations like these allow for education not to come to a standstill.

UNDP-Supported Digital Literacy Hubs in Ukraine

Repurposed libraries supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have become digital literacy hubs benefiting several Ukrainians. The program swiftly grew, beginning with 52 trainers who trained 235 administrators to host 135 events for 2,109 participants. It reached 25,391 people in 22 regions and Kyiv by the end of 2024 and 82% of them reported having strong digital skills following training, compared to just 17% previously.

Today, more than 3,000 libraries offer courses designed for senior citizens that cover everything from using e-services to cyber hygiene, AI tools and smartphone fundamentals. In 2025, new coordinators will receive Diia, AI and event planning training. By ensuring these abilities continue proliferating, educational tools turn libraries into centers of social resilience and economic opportunity. Besides mobile initiatives, UNDP’s impact is transforming library access into bridges for economic development.

Why Mobile Libraries Matter for Poverty Reduction

Mobile libraries are effective instruments for ending the cycle of poverty and offer more than just book delivery services. Research shows that access to mobile libraries significantly boosts reading comprehension, raising literacy scores by 3.3 points on standard scales and explaining 46% of literacy and reading ability variation.

This improvement goes beyond academics; literacy is a key tool in reducing poverty because it is directly associated with increased earning potential, better health outcomes and better employment opportunities. Mobile libraries remove barriers such as distance, cost and poor infrastructure, often preventing people in rural or disaster-affected areas from accessing education. They deliver books, learning materials and internet access directly to underserved communities.

Mobile classrooms and floating libraries guarantee that education continues even in the face of floods or other disruptions in vulnerable climate areas and they offer secure spaces for learning and socializing in regions affected by conflict. By making literacy attainable for all, mobile libraries promote long-term community development globally and empower individuals.

Moving Forward

These programs have repeatedly shown that people can change their lives when they have direct access to books, technology and learning spaces. This is especially true for those who live in remote, underserved or crisis-affected areas. The current challenge is to increase this reach. In addition to scaling up current programs, further funding would support innovative delivery strategies, the creation of locally relevant content and the incorporation of digital tools that equip communities to meet the demands of the contemporary economy.

Through universal literacy access, mobile libraries fight poverty by transforming reading into a domino effect of social resilience, economic opportunity and educational advancement. 

– Kyra Cribbs

Kyra is based in Charleston, SC, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Addressing Child Marriage in Chad With Education and Reform

Child Marriage in ChadIn Chad, thousands of girls as young as 14 years old are pressured to leave education behind and marry before reaching adulthood. Girls Not Brides underlined that in 2019, nearly 61% of Chadian women between the ages of 20 and 24 were married before their 18th birthday. While child marriage rates remain high in the region, the government of Chad and local organizations are rallying behind reforms. Through tougher laws, an increase in tailored educational initiatives and grassroots activism, efforts to curb child marriage rates are actively advancing, bringing hope to thousands of girls.

Correlation Between Child Marriage and Poverty in Chad

Research highlights a strong link between child marriage and poverty. In Chad, this practice is more prevalent among the lowest-income communities: girls from households facing the greatest economic challenges have more than triple the likelihood of marrying before 18 than those in the wealthiest group. The World Bank further emphasizes that economic hardship and limited educational opportunities drive child marriage. This cycle deprives girls from building secure futures, trapping entire families in economic hardship for generations.

Government and Policy Reforms to End Child Marriage in Chad

Policy changes, local initiatives and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are making meaningful progress in reducing child marriage in Chad. As part of the 2023 Universal Periodic Review, Chad emphasized their dedication to fostering equal rights for both men and women, and prioritizing academic opportunities for girls and their participation within schools.

The Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend (SWEDD), is a collaborative effort between the World Bank Group and United Nations, aiming to narrow the gender gap and back efforts to help girls remain in or re-enter education.

The program’s transformative effect is clear, having already achieved: 

  • About 27,906 girls participated in advocacy workshops, helping them understand their rights and resist early marriage
  • It provided 360 mentors with specialized training on how to deliver education on gender issues and human rights
  • It established 360 refuge centers

Strengthening Laws and Birth Registration 

Policy reforms have paved the way for change, and these efforts are now being reinforced through improved legal protections and birth registration efforts. At the  High Level Political Forum in 2019, Chad confirmed the implementation of a revised statutory marriage age, raising it from 16 years to 18 years.

In February 2019, Chad’s government worked alongside the Organization of African First Ladies and United Nations to launch a fully funded plan to eradicate underage marriage. There were six key components of the strategy: 

  • Strengthening laws
  • Expanding public outreach
  • Offering survivor assistance
  • Workforce training
  • Upgrading facilities 
  • Improving oversight

In 2023, Chad implemented a new constitution that bolstered legal safeguards for women and girls, prohibiting harmful practices like genital mutilation and child marriage. Minister of Justice, Yousoff Tom underlined the commitment of the Chadian government, stating “since ratifying the convention in 1995, Chad had worked tirelessly to eradicate discrimination against women.”

With the assistance of the UN, Chad has strengthened birth documentation systems through the opening of registration offices, a crucial step in preventing age falsification.  Legal authorities now travel to refugee settlements to deliver new copies of birth records, strengthening the government’s ability to verify age with precision, closing the loopholes that once left girls vulnerable.

Chad’s Push for Girls’ Education

Chad has made notable progress in ensuring girls remain in education. The 2024 expansion of the Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend not only worked to prevent violence against girls, but also strengthened access to education. The impacts of the initiative were clear, allowing 127,000 girls to receive academic and financial assistance.

Such measures are vital, just 12% of those who graduate from secondary school end up married before reaching age 18, in contrast to 76.5% of girls that have no education.

These reforms are already showing results, with the percentage of girls attending primary school climbing to 83% in 2024. To further advance girls’ education, Chad’s government imposed penalties on schools that denied admission to pregnant students, to safeguard young mothers’ rights to continue their studies and improve their economic prospects.

The Chadian government also created a ministry dedicated to women’s affairs to embed women’s needs and interests into the frameworks of all state-led initiatives. The Positive Parenthood Program works to challenge harmful gender norms while also expanding centers that offer medical and legal assistance to victims.

How Local and Global Groups Are Driving Change

Founded in 2011, Girls Not Brides brings together organizations from around the world to expand opportunities for girls and women and fight against early marriage. Girls not Brides spans almost 100 countries, successfully linking hundreds of groups together who each contribute to reaching the collective goal of preventing child marriage, and empowering and safeguarding girls. Girls not Brides has 10 member organizations working in Chad to tackle the underlying factors fueling child marriage through public engagement, educational initiatives and support services for girls.

Cellule de Liaison des Associations Féminines (CELIAF) is a further example of a coalition fighting for the rights and safety of girls in Chad. CELIAF consists of more than 450 Non-Governmental Organizations, who together, are working to end all forms of inequality faced by women, through strengthening their role within society. According to Peace Direct, CELIAF plays a key role in bringing together women’s advocacy groups in Chad, with their work impacting 16,000 women. Additionally, from 2012 to 2016 CELIAF launched a women’s empowerment initiative that focused on enhancing female participation in peacebuilding. Through linking grassroots organizations, advancing leadership opportunities and championing women’s perspectives, CELIAF effectively lays the groundwork for social change and combats damaging practices like child marriage.

Looking Ahead

Chad continues to face one of the highest child marriage rates globally, but change is on the way. Indeed, through policy changes, expanded educational opportunities and the commitment of local and international organizations, measurable progress has been made. From increasing the legal age of marriage and enhancing birth registration systems, to providing educational support and guidance to young girls, these efforts are empowering women and equipping the, with the tools to shape their own futures.

– Ciara Moore

Ciara is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

, ,

How Bolivia’s Ineffective Education System Is Failing Its Children

Bolivia’s Ineffective Education SystemIn the heart of South America, Bolivia faces a profound education crisis that threatens its youth’s future and the nation’s economic stability. Despite minimal efforts to reform and invest in education, systemic barriers, poverty and inequality continue to prevent millions of Bolivian children from accessing quality schooling. Only one in seven children completes their education. Additionally, more than a million Bolivians aged 15 and above remain illiterate. Hence, the country is grappling with a cycle of underdevelopment that could deepen if left unaddressed.

The Roots of the Crisis

Bolivia has the lowest GDP per capita in South America, at just $4,000. This economic reality directly impacts education, especially in rural and indigenous communities. Students in rural areas complete an average of only 4.2 years of schooling before dropping out to support their families, compared to 9.4 years in urban areas.

Data from the Bolivian Campaign for the Right to Education (CBDE) shows that most students struggle with basic literacy and comprehension. About 70% of third graders and 80% of sixth graders cannot interpret or reflect on written texts. Math and science performance is similarly low, with most students scoring at the lowest levels and unable to apply fundamental concepts.

Data from the World Bank shows that over time, Bolivian children are not completing secondary education courses, while fewer and fewer students enroll in primary education. Bolivia’s ineffective education system fails to equip students with even the most basic skills, leaving them unprepared for higher education and the workforce.

The country’s education system also suffers from a mismatch between what students learn and what the labor market demands. This makes it one of the significant catalysts for an ever-growing wealth disparity. Many graduates find themselves ill-equipped for Bolivia’s dominant agriculture, mining and construction industries, which favor hands-on experience over formal education.

Poverty and Education: A Repeating Cycle

The lack of education in Bolivia is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. Children who leave school early often enter informal labor markets with little opportunity for upward mobility. This keeps a cycle going where families stay trapped in poverty, unable to invest in their children’s futures and it continues for generations. Similar patterns are seen in other countries facing economic struggles.

Several studies have found a strong correlation between education and poverty reduction. Higher levels of education significantly decrease the probability of being impoverished and reduce income inequality. Yet, Bolivia’s ineffective education system fails to deliver these benefits to its vulnerable populations.

Government Efforts and Community Initiatives

Bolivia has tried to make notable efforts to reform its education system. The 1994 education reform aimed to decentralize funding, improve teacher training and expand intercultural bilingual education. These reforms were designed to address the diverse needs of Bolivia’s population, especially in rural and indigenous areas. While efforts to mainstream Indigenous languages in education and reform teaching methods yielded encouraging results, other challenges hinder broader school progress.

In 2010, the Bolivian government enacted the Avelino Siñani–Elizardo Pérez Education Law. This law redefined the country’s educational framework by establishing an educational system rooted in cultural diversity, social inclusion and lifelong learning principles. Rather than using the term “lifelong learning,” the law emphasizes “alternative education,” which serves youth and adults seeking to continue their studies outside the conventional educational system given to them.

The law also promotes education as a fundamental human right and an integration into intercultural and multilingual approaches to strengthen social cohesion, especially among indigenous communities. The holistic approach aimed to democratize access to education and align learning with Bolivia’s social and cultural realities.

Organizations like CHOICE Humanitarian have also taken action to fill gaps. CHOICE Humanitarian has built schools with solar panels, internet access and ecological classrooms that double as greenhouses, providing education and nutrition to students in remote areas. Despite these efforts, Bolivia’s ineffective education system struggles with implementation, consistency and scalability, especially in underserved regions.

The Path Forward

Bolivia’s ineffective education system is complex, rooted in historical inequalities and economic hardship. Yet, the country can pave the way for a brighter future with sustained investment, community involvement and policy reform. In this future, every child can learn, grow and contribute to a prosperous Bolivia.

– Dylan Fly

Dylan is based in Detroit, MI, USA and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Belize’s National Healthy Start School Feeding Program

National Healthy Start School Feeding ProgramThe National Healthy Start School Feeding Program (NHSFP) is a government initiative that provides free, nutritious meals to primary and secondary students in Belize. The program began as a pilot in 2021 and a nationwide expansion in 2023 ensured all children could access healthy meals. Food insecurity affects a significant portion of the population, making the program a vital intervention. This change improved school performance by eliminating hunger in Belize’s school system. The impact of Belize’s NHSFP has been significant, helping to improve the health and education of students across the country.

How the National Healthy Start School Feeding Program Began

Before the NHSFP, a catering system provided school lunches. Private contractors or catering companies prepared meals off-site and then delivered the food. Many schools also had cafeterias where private vendors prepared and sold food to students. These catering companies followed some guidance but were free to prepare whatever food they wanted, regardless of quality or nutritional value. The lack of oversight often resulted in meals that were low in nutrients, contributing to health issues among students and offering no support for the local agricultural sector.

Schools now prepare fresh meals on-site. National menu handbooks with standardized nutrition requirements, developed by a team of nutritionists, ensure all children get healthy meals regardless of income level. The new program encourages schools to purchase food directly from local farmers, which boosts the local economy and provides fresher ingredients. The program has also trained all staff in food safety and nutrition, ensuring students get nutritious meals so they can focus on learning.

Fueling Academic Success

There are now two years’ worth of data on the Impact of Belize’s NHSFP. Some schools participating in the program reported increased student enrollment and decreased absences. School principals and educators have noted that healthy meals allow students to be more focused in class and have more energy to learn.

The program’s success has also spurred the development of a broader National School Food and Nutrition Policy to guide all schools. The program has also provided substantial training to school cooks and administrators since its start, ensuring they know how to do their jobs properly and safely.

Funding the NHSFP

The government of Belize funds the program, with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology managing and disbursing funds to schools to purchase food provisions. Additionally, international grants are a major contributor to the NHSFP’s funding and the government of Taiwan is a substantial supporter.

Mexico is another major contributor to the program, with its Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to provide financial and technical support. This support, which was key to the program’s design and sustainable model, has been crucial to the program’s success, installing new school kitchens, providing appliances and training school staff.

The Next Serving

What began as a small pilot program has quickly expanded into a national initiative to ensure every student in Belize can be hunger-free while in school. The scaling up of this program in stages is a testament to its effectiveness. The long-term impact of Belize’s NHSFP may soon be an example to the rest of the world, showing the importance of this issue and its influence on the success of a nation.

– Jeff Mathwig

Jeff is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Global Health, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pxhere

, ,

Education Programs Cuts Child Labor in Peru

Child Labor in PeruPeru has long grappled with child labor, especially in rural and indigenous communities where poverty is pervasive. Yet, recent educational investments, including bilingual schooling, conditional cash transfers and information-based programs, are helping reverse this troubling trend.

Persistent Poverty and Its Impact on Child Labor

Poverty remains a key driver of child labor in Peru. While the country has made significant progress in reducing poverty, dropping from 58.7% in 2004 to 20.5% in 2018, significant challenges remain. Millions were lifted out of poverty through economic growth and policy reform, yet recent setbacks highlight how fragile these gains are. In 2022, poverty rose amid the pandemic and the number of child laborers increased by roughly 210,000 compared to 2019, reaching 870,000 children and adolescents nationwide.

The issue has deep roots. In 2013, nearly 1.8 million children aged 5 to 17 were working, almost one in four nationwide. More than half of these working children in the 5–13 age bracket came from impoverished households, compared to just 27% of their nonworking peers. Child labor in Peru is concentrated in agriculture, fishing and mining, with rural children disproportionately affected. They are also far more likely to balance school with work than their urban counterparts (39.6% vs. 9.5%).

Bilingual Education’s Strong Effects

Peru’s bilingual education reform has had a notable impact on child labor, especially among indigenous children. A study using data from the Young Lives Study and a difference-in-difference analysis found that access to education delivered in indigenous languages reduced the likelihood of child labor by 12 to 18 percentage points for those children.

Conditional Cash Transfers Encourage Schooling

Peru’s conditional cash transfer program, JUNTOS, launched in 2005, provides families with regular financial support of about $30. The program requires children to attend school and receive basic health checkups. These transfers help alleviate the immediate economic pressures that push children into labor and support human capital development.

One evaluation found that such social protection mechanisms are among the most effective means to promote schooling and thus curb child labor over the long term.

Boosting Education Through Information Campaigns

The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with researchers from Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), piloted two low-cost interventions to inform families about the return to education. These included telenovela-style videos and an interactive tablet app used in schools.

The results were promising: the video series reduced two-year dropout rates by 1.8 percentage points (an 18.85% decrease) in urban areas and families updated long-term educational plans, becoming 10% more likely to aim for higher education. Effects on child labor were mixed: the video reduced child labor by 15% among urban girls, while the app reduced child labor by 7% among rural sixth graders.

Conclusion: Education as a Beacon of Hope

Peru’s concerted efforts, from bilingual schooling and cash transfers to informational campaigns, yield tangible progress in reducing child labor and expanding educational access. Especially in marginalized communities, these strategies are key to breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Sustained investment and scaling up successful interventions offer a powerful path forward toward safeguarding children’s rights and building a more equitable future.

– Alexander Broermann

Alexander is based in Frankfurt, Germany and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Education Reform in China

Education Reform in ChinaWith a population of roughly 1.4 billion, China is the world’s second most populous country, just behind India. Boasting the oldest formal education system in the world, China’s approach to schooling is often regarded as unconventional by the rest of the world. It has frequently been criticized for its intensity and pressure on students, unequal access to opportunities, and heavy emphasis on rote memorization rather than deep understanding. These concerns have made education reform in China one of the nation’s pressing priorities.

The Current Education System

China’s current education system is split into four distinct sections. From ages 3 to 6, Chinese students attend preschool. Though not compulsory, enrollment rate in 2022 hovered at almost 90%. Education from grades one to nine is compulsory; in 2022, the completion rate of China’s nine-year compulsory education program was 95.5%.

Upper secondary education in China, though not mandatory, reached a gross enrollment rate of 91.6%. It further has two main tracks: regular senior high schools and vocational senior high schools. Regular senior high schools focus on preparing students to take the Gaokao, or China’s highly difficult university entrance exam.

In 2022, there were 15,000 regular senior high schools and around nine million new entrants. Vocational senior high schools, on the other hand, aim to prepare students for technical careers through vocational colleges. There were 7,201 vocational high schools in 2022, with around 4 million new entrants, the Ministry of Education reports.

In 2022, gross enrollment in higher education following senior high school hovered around 60%. This percentage includes both regular and vocational high schools. The students in regular senior high schools take the Gaokao, also known as the National College Entrance Examination, at the end of their final year to determine their eligibility for university.

Gaokao Models

Though models of the Gaokao differ from region to region, the test always consists of three required subject tests (Chinese, math and English) and three additional subject tests that students choose (in the more common three+one+two model, either a physics or history exam and an additional two subjects). In 2024, more than 13.4 million students registered for the exam.

The primary criticism of the Gaokao is the immense pressure it places on students. Because a singular exam effectively determines a student’s entire future and professional trajectory, many students devote nearly all of their time to preparing for the test. The test is often also faulted for its emphasis on rote learning and memorization rather than critical thinking and creativity, according to the Center for International Higher Education.

Additionally, the Gaokao is often the only pathway for students from underserved backgrounds to move up. However, students in urban areas with greater financial means are at a significant advantage. Families spend more than $120 billion annually on tutoring, preparation courses, and supplemental schooling. Without access to similarly costly support, many low-income students are at a disadvantage. As a result, the exam is often receives critics for reinforcing existing inequalities. Education reform in China have largely focused on the Gaokao.

Ongoing Reforms

Education reform in China has taken two main forms when it comes to the Gaokao. The first reform, implemented initially in 2014 but not quite covering the entirety of the nation, changes the required subjects to the current model (three required and three chosen), according to the Center for International Higher Education.

Under the previous model, students chose either the liberal arts track (politics, history, and geography) or the sciences track (physics, chemistry, and biology) in addition to the three required subjects. The reformed system requires that students still take the three required subject tests but allows students to choose any three additional subjects, offering them greater flexibility.

The second reform would enforce a new university admission framework, also known as “two bases + one reference,” according to the Center for International Higher Education. Under this system, the Gaokao will no longer be the only component in university admissions, though it will remain the primary factor. In addition to the Gaokao, university admissions will also look at proficiency subject exams taken by students throughout high school and a reference, which is an evaluation system that analyzes a high school student’s academic performance, physical and mental health, ethical behavior, and artistic ability.

Two-Phased Plan

In addition to Gaokao-specific changes, the State Council introduced a two-phased plan earlier this year for education reform in China. The new initiative emphasizes a more holistic approach to education that departs from traditional Gaokao exam preparation and ensures physical and aesthetic education. For one, the program would mandate that students receive at least two hours of physical activities per day. The plan would also limit off-campus academic tutoring and repetitive homework, allowing students to foster adaptability and creativity while decreasing educational inequalities.

By shifting focus away from the Gaokao and standardized testing while promoting other areas of growth, this new system would reduce stress on students, strengthen both mental and physical health, and cultivate essential creative and critical thinking.

Looking Ahead

Though this education reform in China would greatly improve the current Gaokao system, harsh exam culture remains deeply ingrained and continues to make the shift away challenging. Although gradual shifts are underway, it will take time for students, parents, and teachers to fully embrace a more holistic approach to learning. Until then, ongoing adjustments remain the best steps forward.

– Ariana Wang

Ariana is based in Dallas, TX, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Ethiopia’s Health Workforce Shortage: Strategies To Train & Retain

Ethiopia’s Health Workforce ShortageEthiopia is one of the most populous nations in Africa. It is dealing with a severe shortage of trained medical providers, particularly in rural and low-income areas. This shortage reduces access to quality health care, undermines the effectiveness of public health initiatives and ultimately affects life expectancy.

Ethiopia’s Health Care Workforce Shortage

Ethiopia has one of the lowest health care worker-to-patient ratios in sub-Saharan Africa, with only one physician per 5,843 people. Many rural clinics operate with just one or two nurses and sometimes, no trained doctors. Programs like the Health Extension Program improve access to basic services.

However, a lack of trained health professionals continues to limit the success of health programming and the overall quality of health care for the population. Key factors contributing to the workforce shortage include a lack of medical training and vocational programs, low salaries, poor working conditions and limited opportunities for advancement. Together, these challenges drive many trained professionals to leave Ethiopia in search of work elsewhere.

Increasing Educational Opportunities

Increasing educational opportunities is an essential component to tackle Ethiopia’s workforce challenges. Ethiopia has made major strides in expanding medical schools and allied health programs nationwide. There has been some success in establishing higher outputs of trained doctors and nurses in a short time.

However, the need continues to grow for trained doctors, nurses and specialists. This requires investments in teaching hospitals, training facilities and qualified faculty. It also calls for partnerships with international universities and health institutions to create opportunities for knowledge transfer, skill development and student exposure to professional exchange programs in global health settings.

Such measures would strengthen medical education in Ethiopia and provide students with valuable pathways to gain experience.

Ethiopia’s Health Care Workers Retention Challenge

Retaining health care personnel is another significant challenge. Many health workers and other health care professionals are often under extreme stress due to a high patient load, old equipment and fluctuating salaries. Such conditions can lead to burnout and increase the likelihood of trained workers leaving their country to work elsewhere for relatively better conditions.

There are many solutions to these retention issues, such as improved standards of care, better health care systems, consistent supply chains for medical equipment and medicines and salaries that are compliant or more than the salaries in the region. Financial incentives such as bonuses for performance or relocation expenses for trained health professionals returning to work in Ethiopia can also boost recruitment and retention of trained health care professionals currently working abroad.

Ethiopia can build a healthier and more robust workforce if it can start to solve retention challenges.

Efforts To Boost the Health Workforce

Technology-based solutions exist to relieve tensions related to the health care workforce shortage in Ethiopia. Programs like the International Virtual e-Hospital Foundation’s (IVeH) telemedicine initiative aim to enhance health care access and education in Ethiopia.

Telemedicine cannot wholly substitute in-person care; however, it is a vital tool to deal with the burden of having limited staff to meet the health care needs of individuals in remote areas for timely consultations.

Public engagement and awareness are also important to create a sustainable health care workforce. Campaigns highlighting the benefits and importance of health care careers can motivate young Ethiopians to pursue medical training and lay a strong foundation for a commitment to service in their communities.

Schools, community settings and social media can all encourage students to consider health care professions. Indeed, by promoting health care as a respectable and impactful career, graduates will be more likely to remain in Ethiopia and support the development of the national health system.

Conclusion

Tackling Ethiopia’s health care workforce shortage has ramifications beyond public health, extending into national development. A stronger and more equitable workforce could expand access to care, prevent avoidable deaths and restore public confidence in the health system.

Training and retaining health care personnel is a health investment and an economic one, as improved health fosters a more productive population capable of advancing national development goals. Furthermore, by aligning efforts in medical education, workforce retention, technological innovation and public engagement, Ethiopia can build a sustainable health care system that meets the needs of its growing population.

– Sophia Scelza

Sophia is based in Lindenhurst, NY, US and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr