Archive for category: Education

Information and stories on education.

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Rouble Nagi: Solving Child Poverty in India With Art and Education

Child Poverty in IndiaFew activists can say that their work has made a difference in more than 100 communities and improved the lives of more than a million underprivileged children. But Rouble Nagi, a teacher and an artist from India, has a resume unlike any other. Through her work as an artist and educator, she has developed a unique and innovative approach to alleviating child poverty in India by providing adolescents with free, flexible education. 

Her work primarily involves building education facilities and transforming the walls of abandoned buildings into educational murals. Indeed, these murals, which she calls “Living Walls of Learning,” teach reading, math, science and more, providing children with accessible learning opportunities. In February 2026, she was awarded the 2026 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize for her outstanding work on the ground in marginalized communities.

A Hero for India’s Underprivileged Youth

India has the largest child population in the world, with 253 million adolescents out of 1.46 billion people and 25% of these children are living in poverty without access to education. As one of the largest nations in the world, India’s youth will be essential to the future of India and the world. But not enough of these children are getting the care and services they need to grow up with good physical and intellectual health. 

Many factors keep impoverished children from attending school, primarily child labor, child marriage and a lack of proper education facilities. However, Nagi has found a way to work around this. She has designed an education system that works around the challenges facing India’s youth. Her education facilities offer lenient schedules, where children learn practical skills they will use in everyday life.

Nagi has created more than 800 classrooms and murals across more than 100 slums and communities through her organization, the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation (RNAF), resulting in astounding progress. For the one million children who attend her classrooms, she has reduced the dropout rate by 50% and helped ensure they stay in school until completion. Through art, compassion and hard work, Nagi has been a hero to India’s youth and a pioneer in ending child poverty.

Recipient of the 2026 Global Teacher Prize

The GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize is an initiative organized by the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO. Each year, judges select a teacher who has exemplified what it means to be an outstanding educator. The winner receives a $1 million prize for their accomplishments. 

The most recent Global Teacher Prize went to Nagi for the sheer expanse of her positive impact on children’s education in India. She received this award at the 2026 World Governments Summit in Dubai. Judges chose Nagi out of more than 5,000 nominees from 139 countries, describing her as representing the very best of what teaching can be.

What Is Next?

With the $1 million reward she received, Nagi plans to continue providing education to marginalized youth to expand their opportunities and help them lead better lives. Specifically, she plans to build a specialized skilling institute, where she will provide free online and in-person literacy training. She exemplifies what it means to take action to improve the lives of those less fortunate. 

Though child poverty in India remains alarmingly high, pioneers like Nagi are always emerging from the woodwork and taking charge of creating a better future. Her work isn’t done either; she plans to improve the lives of millions more, bringing an end to child poverty step by step.

– Lucas Cain

Lucas is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Using Technology to Improve Education in Tanzania

Education System in TanzaniaTanzania, a country in East Africa, has faced many years of poverty and hardships under its government that bled into the education department. Due to a lack of support in finding teachers, supplies, and high dropout rates in the education system, it took a while for someone to find a solution to ease the transition of teaching English. 

The national language in Tanzania is Swahili (Kiswahili), with English as the second most common. In Tanzania, there is no push to learn English at a young age, which causes children to drop out and be left in a pitfall without the opportunity to learn and the inability to be employed in higher-paying jobs. 

The setbacks that children face in Tanzania are not their fault. Despite the education system’s flaws, there is a group of hardworking people who are using technology to help bridge the English gap and keep students in school.

Selfless Solutions (E-Shuleni)

After a volunteer trip to Tanzania, Patrick Irwin saw how much the children in Tanzania wanted to learn, but didn’t have the resources to learn. Irwin wanted to make a change in providing education and using technology to bridge the language barrier, and seeing the motivations of the kids encouraged Irwin to keep going.

“When you see with your own eyes just how much the kids are developing thanks to the work of our organization and all the people involved, it gives you a lot of motivation to continue to do the things that aren’t necessarily as fun,” Iwrin said. 

“E-Shuleni” is the technology used as a way to help children transition to learning English with more ease. For seven years, children are taught Swahili, and once the students complete primary school, an abrupt switch to learning English happens. This switch often causes struggles to keep up with the curriculum, and many students drop out. 

Struggles in Education

The education system in Tanzania, though scoring high rates on their exams, continues to struggle with other problems: overcrowding, teacher shortages, financial struggles, and resource gaps are just some of the problems that they still face. 

Poor proficiency in English as the medium of instruction was a major factor contributing to higher dropout rates in early secondary grades, according to a study by Consortia Academy. School records revealed that many students…struggled to understand lessons and communicate effectively in English…This language barrier created significant learning challenges, limiting students’ participation in class and their ability to perform well in assessments, ultimately contributing to early school withdrawal.

These problems, though not significant to just Tanzania, are problems that many surrounding countries face. However, the problems of education and solutions to fix those problems are focused solely on Tanzania, because each country is different. 

Focusing on education in just Tanzania with the Selfless Solutions program, Irwin believes that this will, in turn, bring more support and a steady footing underneath. Instead of trying to branch out to different countries. 

“We are focused on strengthening and sustaining existing programs that we have rather than expanding into new areas,” Irwin said. “Our program is designed to scale and expand across Tanzania, but it may not be suitable for neighboring countries like Kenya and Uganda.”

Since 2019, when Selfless Solutions was founded, this program has created a bright and supportive future for the children in Tanzania. 

Future of Selfless Solutions

Following the success and positive results from the pilot of “E-Shuleni,” the enterprise of teaching children English has expanded to seeking new partnerships and groups.

Selfless Solutions expanded “E-Shuleni” to the new “E-Shuleni” Reading Club. The reason behind this is the first class that used this technology, the children completed the full e-learning program. These children have now moved to grade 5, aiding in the improvement of children who surpass the dropout rate when they start to learn English. 

The students come together every week to read, practice, and stay connected to English. Irwin believes that hope and self-belief are not contained in the classroom, and that a child is influenced when they are at home or in their community. Selfless Solutions creates a groundwork and steadiness for more things in life, not just education.

– Elizabeth Fryer

Elizabeth is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Selfless Solutions

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Trail Bridges in Nepal: Improving Access to Schools and Clinics

Trail Bridges in NepalIn Nepal’s hill and mountain districts, seasonal rivers often separate communities from essential services. During monsoon season, rising water levels can wash away temporary crossings, forcing children, patients and families to take long detours or attempt unsafe river crossings. Trail bridges in rural Nepal are helping restore safe, year-round access to schools, health posts and emergency care. By replacing damaged or temporary crossings with durable pedestrian suspension bridges, Nepal’s trail bridge program helps reduce travel time and improve safety for rural communities.

Infrastructure and Recovery Needs

The need for resilient rural infrastructure intensified after the 2015 earthquake, which affected 31 districts and damaged transport links and public facilities. In many hill and mountain areas, the absence of a bridge can significantly extend travel time to schools, markets and health facilities, particularly during monsoon periods.

Nepal’s Department of Local Infrastructure (DoLI) coordinates the Trail Bridge Sector Wide Approach (TB SWAp), which provides national standards, financing mechanisms and institutional coordination across federal, provincial and local governments. According to DoLI, Nepal had 8,444 trail bridges in place under the sector framework, with an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 additional bridges still needed to ensure safer crossings and reduce long detours.

The framework sets an access objective aimed at limiting detours to safer crossings to within one hour, with particular focus on rural and disadvantaged communities.

Implementation relies on standardized technical designs, trained bridge builders, user committees and quality monitoring systems operating under national guidelines.

Construction Momentum and National Scale

A 2023 regional presentation on Nepal’s trail bridge sector reported that Nepal reached 10,000 trail bridges by 2023 and constructed 740 trail bridges in fiscal year 2022/2023. The same presentation reported that approximately 1 million people use a trail bridge each day.

Switzerland’s development agency, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, has supported Nepal’s trail bridge program since the 1960s.

Swiss government reports that Swiss technical support and funding support helped build more than 8,000 trail bridges, improving access to services for millions of people.

Measurable Gains in Education and Health Access

Switzerland’s government reported that the trail bridge program improved access for more than 18 million people, with about 1.4 million people using trail bridges daily.

In areas near newly built trail bridges, average school attendance increased by 16%, and visits to health centers increased by 26%.

Helvetas, which provides technical verification and engineering support to the Nepali government, reports similar outcomes: school attendance increases by an average of 16% and consultations at health centers rise by 26% following construction of a new trail bridge.

Helvetas also reports that each bridge shortens and secures travel routes for an average of approximately 1,800 people.

Why the Model Works

Nepal’s trail bridge sector combines national technical standards with decentralized delivery. The TB SWAp framework outlines institutionalized norms, standardized manuals and training systems that support construction and monitoring at multiple levels of government.

The UNCRD presentation notes that average annual construction increased under the sector-wide approach, reflecting strengthened coordination and sector planning.

Helvetas reports that more than 10,000 trail bridges have now been built in Nepal, many verified through long-term partnerships with the government.

Swiss development reporting highlights that Nepal has developed the institutional capacity to plan, construct and maintain trail bridges through national and subnational systems.

Continuing Need

Despite progress, thousands of additional crossings remain necessary to reduce unsafe river crossings and long detours in rural areas.

Documented increases in school attendance and health facility visits indicate that trail bridges in rural Nepal remain a practical and evidence-based approach to improving access to essential services for remote and marginalized communities.

– Kira Rai

Kira is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Spotlighting 5 Charities in the Galapagos

Charities in the GalapagosAlthough the main focus of many charities operating throughout the Galapagos Islands is wildlife conservation-based, efforts also prioritize the residents of these islands. More than 25% of residents in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are living in poverty. Below are five charities in the Galapagos doing work in the islands to help.

1. The Charles Darwin Foundation

In 1959, a group of scientists and researchers created the Charles Darwin Foundation to preserve the communities across the Galapagos Islands. Since then, it has only grown, becoming one of the leading charities in the Galapagos.

Volunteers are able to utilize the work they are putting into the environment to better the lives of the residents. Not only do they offer a comprehensive science education program, but they have also created clubs and social groups for the children enrolled. These opportunities are not something they can find elsewhere. 

In addition to their classes and experiential learning activities, the foundation has traveling libraries to supplement the lack of them on the Floreana and Isabela islands. By providing 1,500 children with advanced education each year, it gives them additional opportunities for their future, widening what was previously available to them. 

Education resources in the Galapagos Islands are extremely limited, so these programs are valuable to children living in poverty if they hope to have ample job prospects as they approach adulthood.

2. Ecuador Volunteer Fundacion

Ecuador Volunteer Fundacion has curated a vast network of volunteers across the globe who work to aid the community in the Galapagos. It is helping to better the lives of many by flying out volunteers to help directly, taking donations to increase their assistance budget and more. Its volunteers work closely with both children and adults on the islands to help them succeed. Because of its efforts, 1,437+ families have received natural, healthy food bags. On top of this, 1,161+ children have received a strong education and benefited developmentally.

These families are reliant on this kind of charity work as food and water insecurity are prominent in the Galapagos. It primarily receives food through imports from Ecuador, which often results in a decrease in the quality and nutritional value.

3. The Intrepid Foundation: Galapagos Conservancy

The primary focus of this foundation is to raise funds to support the people of the Galapagos Islands through a donation portal. It advocates for the often less-recognized troubles these communities face.

It pushes for women to have equal access to job opportunities and supports women’s leadership throughout the islands, desiring an inclusive environment. Through this, families can better support themselves financially. In tandem with this, it advocates for women to have a part in the conservation of their home. A large part of the work that charities in the Galapagos are doing is environmental, and they push for all residents to be included in that.

As this foundation has progressed, 60 women now have steady support to pursue sustainability and nutrition based work. The grants they have received have been as much as $10,000.

4. Galapagos Conservation Trust

The Galapagos Conservation Trust is composed of volunteers, scientists, citizen scientists, supporting members and the many people who donate. All of these people work together to curate a sustainable, hospitable home for the people of the Galapagos.

It works directly with community members and scientists from the islands to empower them to sustain conservation efforts in their communities. It is ensuring the future of their children, grandchildren and more by having sustainable development.

Volunteers also provide families with food security through the Urban Family Gardening project. Starting in 2020, it has supported local families in starting their own gardens and growing their own food to ensure their well-being. This project makes it so that the children of the islands are receiving healthy food, especially as importing from the mainland has been less effective after the COVID-19 pandemic. In just its first year, it reached 525 families and 19 teachers, and only more since.

5. Heifer International

Heifer International operates in nearly 20 countries to promote food security for impoverished families across the world. Particularly, in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, it aids rural communities in connecting with larger markets to promote their farming economy. Rather than focusing solely on the short term, it works to grow the islands’ economy over time.

It has had more than 600,000 participants in its program in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands since 1993, empowering people to grow their own food and take their agricultural businesses to the next level. As residents grow their own food, access to food is inherently more stable than relying on imports from elsewhere. By 2030, it hopes to have sustainable food systems operating in 189,000 households and rural areas to help them overcome poverty, food insecurity and eventually have a stable, livable income.

Final Remarks

As more charities expand to include the Galapagos in their ventures, and new ones pop up fully devoted to the islands, the percentage of islanders living in poverty will decrease further. It is important to support these organizations to make stability for these residents a possibility.

– Megan McGrath

Megan is based in Verona, NJ, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Higher Education in Portugal

Higher Education in PortugalMany may not be aware of the university structures that are within various countries, such as Portugal. To understand these educational stances is to understand the youth and the opportunities that exist for those in such areas. Here is information about higher education in Portugal.

The Accessibility of Higher Education in Portugal

Historically, Portugal was not known as having easily accessible education. From the 1950s to 1970s, a dictator ran Portugal who took away freedom of education, expression, health and security. Literacy rates and job security were at an all-time low. The country was known for providing agricultural resources, but the dictator took away any factory or industrial jobs to minimize competition, strikes and those gaining knowledge of the poor work conditions and decisions he was making. With the lack of education and accessibility for jobs, the citizens were not able to protest against or understand the immense poverty or deprivation they were facing.

The fight to create a better system in Portugal is not new. Back in 2005, the country witnessed legal movements aimed at making higher education more accessible to young people. It first created the new credit system, which created more opportunities for students to study abroad and hold clearer records on their diplomas, according to the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.

When it comes to studying abroad, there are diverse ways that students can achieve that. There are different programs they can join like Erasmus+ and the Almeida Garrett program. These programs allow students to look at different internships, schooling opportunities or work studies to experience life abroad. Since Portugal is a part of the EU, studying abroad is relatively easy as options are more accessible.

Improving Accessibility

Flash forward to 2009-2010, the Universidade Católica Portuguesa described how it implemented a new system to clarify expectations on knowledge, credits and hours students must have in their undergraduate and graduate degrees. This created that much-needed organized system, which helps to guide students by setting clear expectations and goals.

Knowing these new laws, it is also important to know the different types of universities they apply to. Higher education in Portugal has both private and public entities. Public structures are less expensive, while private structures are more expensive, often involving smaller schools. Both hold their pros and cons, but fit different students’ wants and needs.

Higher education in Portugal includes both universities and polytechnics. Attending a university gives someone more research and educational opportunities, a way for students to learn more about their major and concentration. Polytechnics are a space for students to learn more about their focused career. It is often more practical, helping students focus on working toward a specific job.

Poverty in Portugal

Poverty has existed in Portugal for many reasons, including the country being late to industrialization and having wars and inadequate infrastructure affecting its economy. Initiatives like the Child Guarantee National Action Plan are addressing poverty among children and helping them access the same opportunities as those who are not impoverished.

Portugal’s economy has grown, which has resulted in more jobs, higher wages for those with higher education and a large market for recent graduates. According to the Human Development Index, Portugal is now a highly developed country, ranking high in many aspects and 40th overall. Education plays a crucial role in people understanding their rights, gaining equal pay, shifting and creating gender norms and making a life for oneself. From 1990 to 2023, the HDI states, “expected years of schooling changed by 5.6 years and mean years of schooling changed by 4.4 years.” This overall plays a role in the HDI, helping to make Portugal’s change as pivotal as it was, preventing it from falling into poverty while working towards an outstanding economy.

Looking Ahead

All of this being said, improvements are still needed in Portugal’s higher education system. However, focusing on that discredits what Portugal has accomplished so far, which has resulted in it moving in a positive direction.

– Daniella Johnson

Daniella is based in the USA and focuses on World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Educating Girls in Kenya: Employ Them and End Poverty

Educating Girls in KenyaIn Kenya, youth unemployment is a major driver of poverty. Each year, millions of young people enter the labor market, but many lack the qualifications needed for formal employment. In 2024, the youth unemployment rate stood at 11.93%, underscoring the continued limitations on access to stable jobs due to skills gaps.

When girls in Kenya are not educated, they continue to face barriers to completing secondary school due to social constraints and economic hardship, which increases their risk of falling into poverty. Without access to education and skills training, youth unemployment continues to fuel poverty and trap families in cycles of economic insecurity. Keeping girls in school and teaching them practical skills can reduce youth unemployment, expand opportunities and help break the link between joblessness and poverty.

Gender Inequality in Education

Kenya’s labor data show large gender disparities that worsen youth unemployment and increase exposure to poverty. According to the World Bank’s 2022 report, roughly 32.67% of Kenya’s female youth are not in education, employment or training (NEET). This means they are disconnected from opportunities that could help protect them from poverty.

Focusing on educating girls in Kenya is crucial to closing this gap and giving them pathways out of youth unemployment.

Skills Training as a Pathway Out of Poverty

To address these gaps, the government and its partners have strengthened Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), a World Bank–funded program, increased enrollment in flagship TVET colleges from 6,971 to 57,857 students. During the program, the share of female graduates entering the workforce rose from 51% to 74%, demonstrating how skills-based training can help women overcome barriers to employment.

In addition to government action, nonprofit efforts are helping girls continue their education and build better prospects. The Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) in Kenya was established in 2025 as a new national initiative to expand access to secondary school for girls from low-income backgrounds. In its first year, the program directly provided school fees, uniforms, menstrual supplies and disability support to 2,082 girls in Kajiado County.

To ensure students also received academic and psychosocial support, the initiative trained 163 government teachers as mentors. CAMFED’s approach is part of a broader pan-African movement that has helped millions of children access education and uses peer networks to support girls beyond the classroom.

Corporate Partnerships Reduce Youth Unemployment

Partnerships with the corporate sector are strengthening the link between jobs and skills. By 2030, the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works program in Kenya aims to help seven million young adults, including about five million young women, find suitable employment. The approach works with government, businesses and educational institutions to improve practical training, align skills with employer needs and support business growth.

The initiative also partners with TVET institutions to integrate competency-based skills and create pathways that connect education to income opportunities in digital technology, agribusiness, the green economy and other industries. Another instance of implementation is the 2Jiahiri campaign, launched by the KCB Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation. The plan aims to create approximately 43,000 jobs and offer vocational training to 8,500 young people.

Graduates have access to funding, business support and starter toolkits. 2Jiajiri has created more than 150,000 jobs and trained more than 35,000 young people, boosting their access to economic opportunities.

Final Remarks

This coordinated effort shows how educating girls in Kenya and linking their skills to real jobs can reduce their vulnerability to poverty. When education aligns with actual career paths, students graduate into productive economic roles rather than into uncertain futures. Schools, government training programs and private-sector partners work together to keep girls in school.

If these models are scaled and sustained, they can help more girls stay in school, find respectable jobs and build an economy where young people can contribute with confidence and independence.

– Madison Brown

Madison is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Deworming Programs & School Attendance in Cambodia

Deworming ProgramsParasitic worm infections remain a common but preventable health challenge for children in Cambodia. While these infections are rarely life-threatening, they can cause chronic fatigue, anemia and recurring illness that make it difficult for children to attend school consistently or concentrate in class. For low-income households, these repeated health disruptions can quietly undermine education and limit long-term economic opportunity.

In recent years, national deworming programs implemented through schools have become a core part of Cambodia’s public health and education strategy. By reducing preventable illness among school-aged children, these initiatives help protect learning and remove health-related barriers that can trap families in cycles of poverty.

A Persistent Health Burden

Soil-transmitted helminth infections, including roundworm, whipworm and hookworm, continue to affect more than one billion people worldwide, with children among the most vulnerable groups. According to a 2023 fact sheet from the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic worm infections contribute to malnutrition, impaired growth and reduced physical stamina, particularly in areas with limited sanitation and access to clean water.

In Cambodia, exposure remains common in many rural and peri-urban communities. Rather than causing acute illness, these infections often create a steady health burden that lowers children’s energy levels and increases short-term absenteeism. Over time, the persistent drag on health weakens children’s ability to benefit fully from schooling.

Why Attendance Is Fragile for Poor Households

For children from low-income families, school attendance is often highly sensitive to health. Even a relatively minor illness can result in missed days when households lack access to timely health care or cannot absorb repeated disruptions. These short absences accumulate, creating learning gaps that are difficult to recover from.

Education is widely recognized as one of the most reliable pathways out of poverty. However, its benefits depend on consistent participation. When preventable health conditions interfere with attendance, the effectiveness of education spending is reduced, particularly for children already facing economic disadvantage. 

Schools as a Platform for Health Delivery

Deworming involves periodic administration of safe, low-cost medication to eliminate intestinal worms. The WHO’s most recent guidance, updated in the early 2020s, recommends preventive treatment for children living in endemic areas where infection prevalence exceeds established thresholds.

When delivered through schools, deworming programs can reach large numbers of children efficiently and at a minimal cost. According to recent estimates summarized by the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), school-based deworming programs typically cost around $0.50 per child per year. This makes them one of the most cost-effective public health interventions currently in use.

In Cambodia, deworming efforts are coordinated by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. This allows treatment to be integrated into routine school activities rather than relying on clinic-based delivery.

Evidence From Implementation in Cambodia

Cambodia’s school-based deworming programs have historically achieved high levels of coverage among enrolled children. A treatment coverage survey conducted in Kamport Province in the early 2010s found that 84%–89% of targeted school-age children received treatment. This result demonstrates the effectiveness of school-based delivery in reaching the intended population.

While this study reflects an earlier implementation phase, more recent WHO country profiles indicate that Cambodia has continued regular school-based deworming in the 2020s as part of its neglected tropical disease control strategy. The country has maintained national program coverage in endemic areas. High treatment coverage plays an important role in reducing the overall burden of infection within schools and surrounding communities.

It supports sustained improvements in child health when programs are delivered consistently and at scale.

Protected Learning and Household Stability

Deworming programs do not create educational opportunities on their own. Instead, they help prevent preventable illness from eroding children’s ability to attend school regularly and participate in learning. Healthier children are better able to maintain attendance and avoid repeated short-term absences that disproportionately affect students from low-income households.

For families living near or below the poverty line, recurring illness can also lead to avoidable medical expenses and lost income when caregivers must miss work. By lowering infection prevalence, deworming programs help reduce these health-related economic shocks and support household stability.

A Low-Cost Way To Safeguard Opportunity

Deworming programs are widely recognized for their reliability rather than their novelty. Their strength lies in consistent delivery, high coverage and low cost. Implemented through schools, they help ensure that basic health conditions do not quietly undermine the effectiveness of education for children most at risk of poverty.

In Cambodia, continued investment in school-based deworming reflected a broader understanding that poverty reduction depends not only on expanding access to education, but also on protecting children’s health so that education can work as intended.

– Tom Basu

Tom is based in Buckinghamshire, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Education in India: Access, Challenges and the Path Forward

Education in IndiaIt’s no secret that education opens up pathways and opportunities for those able to attend school. Countless organizations and activists fight for education access worldwide every day. Unfortunately, the reality is that thousands of children worldwide are unable to attend school and receive the education they deserve.

In India, an estimated 1.17 million children aren’t attending school as of 2025. The lack of educational access stems from various reasons, including the uncertainty of the job market after graduating. Unemployment rates for Indian college graduates are staggeringly high. One graduate’s perspective attempts to shed light on this issue and the education system in India as a whole.

Who Has Access to Education in India?

Despite the challenging job market, education in India remains a powerful tool for combating poverty and inequality. Education and poverty are closely linked. Education helps reduce poverty by creating job opportunities and driving economic growth, while poverty limits access to education by restricting resources and opportunities for low-income individuals.

A family isn’t likely to prioritize the education of their children if they are forced to choose between putting food on the table and purchasing school supplies. These children face fewer opportunities in life than their peers and much higher chances of lifelong poverty. Children belonging to marginalized groups are more likely to face educational adversity.

Socioeconomic status, gender and residing in rural areas have been proven to negatively affect education levels. Due to cultural expectations of household chores and marriage, nearly 30% of girls in India do not finish their elementary education. Teacher shortages and a lack of an updated and usable facility to hold classes affect those in less-populated areas.

Yet, this problem is not limited to adolescents, as more than 19% of adults are illiterate.

Education and the Workforce

Though education in India is of high quality for those who can access it, a degree does not guarantee employment. In fact, 13.4% of college graduates struggle to find jobs that offer fair wages. More than half of unemployed young people are educated, some holding multiple degrees.

An estimated seven million jobs will need to be created over the next decade to meet the demands of India’s growing workforce. The bleak outlook of post-graduate employment, often earning as little as $2.40 per day, discourages many students from continuing their education.

Making Education Accessible

Many organizations are making efforts to make education more accessible to all. The issue of children facing barriers to education isn’t solved in its entirety. However, these acts are a step in the right direction and offer thousands of children opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise had.

  • The Right to Education Act makes education for children 6-14 years old free and compulsory. This act prevents children from being expelled or dropping out of school before completing elementary school, as well as providing teachers with the right training and qualifications in every school. This act guarantees children years of free education, which will help a large portion of the children in low-income families. If there are no associated costs with obtaining a basic education, parents are more likely to send their children.
  • Furthermore, India launched the National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020, in an effort to revamp the education system and offer quality education on all levels. The main focus is on a new system of a 5+3+3+4 pattern of education. In other terms, dividing education into four stages, with an emphasis on development, language learning, vocational skills and holistic development.
  • Pratham is one of the largest nongovernmental organizations working to make education accessible to all children in India. Founded in 1995, the organization began by providing education to children living in the slums of Mumbai. Pratham developed the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, which places children in learning groups based on what they know rather than their age. This method has significantly improved student learning outcomes, as well as classroom organization and management. Today, Pratham is widely recognized for its impact on education access and has received numerous awards for its work.

Final Remarks

Working to solve India’s job crisis will work in tandem with increasing education rates; if pursuing education and degrees results in higher-paying jobs, then more individuals and families will prioritize education. With the growing use of AI, many entry-level positions once available to new graduates are no longer accessible.

To address this issue, school curricula are beginning to shift toward incorporating skills such as digital science, robotics, data science and applied AI to better prepare students for the workforce. Education is an incredible tool that opens doors for many people. It can continue to change lives and create a lasting impact, regardless of an individual’s country of residence.

– Sydney Uhl

Sydney is based in Vancouver, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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A Glance Into Poverty in Portugal

Poverty in PortugalPortugal, a beautiful country, is littered with sprawling cathedrals and castles. One of Portugal’s primary attractions is its high number of visitors. According to Road Genius, Portugal attracts an average of 15 million to 18 million people per year; despite being such a popular tourist destination, Portugal continues to battle with many financial and economic problems. This article will outline the problems and solutions to tackling poverty in Portugal.

A Glance Into the Facts About Poverty in Portugal

SDG Watch Europe states that 2.2 million people, which makes up about one-fifth of Portugal’s population, are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Portugal had an economic crisis from 2011 through to 2015, which elongated its existing financial issues. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic furthered this.

Portugal observes an extremely large gap between the richest and the poorest. Euro Weekly News states that the wealthiest 25% of the population hold 48% of the country’s total income.

SDG Watch Europe argues that having a job in Portugal does not guarantee its citizens a decent standard of living. For instance, in 2017, about one out of every five people was earning the national minimum wage. Women earning the national minimum wage were double the amount of men.

SDG provides a few solutions: one is to strengthen the social protection and the benefits system to make it fairer and more effective for society in Portugal. Secondly, it recommends a focus on more inclusive growth through policies of income and wealth distribution. This includes more equal and progressive taxation.

Addressing Education in Portugal

SDG states that education is improving in Portugal. For example, school dropout rates have fallen and there has been a sharp increase in girls’ education. However, SDG illustrates that Portugal is one of the least educated countries in Europe with 22% of the population completing only the first cycle of compulsory education. Many children under the age of sixteen end up leaving school in search of work or live on the streets.

According to Eurydice, the Portuguese Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation has launched a Learning More Now Plan, in the school year of 2024-2025, which includes a “strengthening of assessment literacy in leadership” and “early interventions to prevent yearly retention and early school dropout.” Strengthening education is one solution to reducing poverty in Portugal.

The Portuguese National Action Plan

The Portuguese National Action Plan began in 2022 and plans to continue in 2030. This plan has seen a development of initiatives such as the reduction of poverty among children and young people, with the goal of a reduction of 170,000 children in poverty by 2030. So far, there has been 270 measures to reduce the risk of poverty such as the free school meals, enhanced housing support and social benefits.

The President’s Stance on Poverty

According to The Resident, the current president of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has admitted his frustration with the lack of improvement in Portugal’s poverty figures. At the start of the mandate, the president hoped to help eradicate poverty and improve the situation for the homeless. To improve, President de Sousa has argued for the implementation of a global strategy to eradicate poverty in Portugal.

Portugal needs a large improvement in reducing poverty, particularly for a country that attracts so many global visitors per year. Implementing the solutions that the SDGs set out helps tackle Portugal’s financial and economic issues. This is furthered by initiatives in education such as the Learning More Now Plan.

– Joe Langley

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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How Public Libraries Are Alleviating Poverty in Rural South Africa

Poverty in Rural South AfricaIn rural South Africa, where access to education, technology and employment opportunities is often limited, public libraries are playing a pivotal role in breaking the cycle of poverty. These libraries have transformed into vital community hubs that offer much more than just reading materials. They are gateways to education, digital literacy and skills development, providing rural populations with the tools they need to improve their livelihoods.

The Role of Public Libraries in Rural South Africa

Public libraries in rural South Africa play an essential role in enhancing the local information environment by providing equitable access to information, education and digital tools. In areas with limited resources, these libraries serve as crucial community hubs, offering a wide range of services, including access to books, the internet and educational programs. By bridging the digital divide, public libraries empower individuals with the skills needed to navigate the digital world, improving their chances of economic success and social inclusion.

Furthermore, libraries facilitate lifelong learning by offering various educational opportunities, from early childhood literacy programs to adult education and vocational training. In this way, public libraries help address information poverty, promote equality and contribute to sustainable development, alleviating poverty in rural communities across South Africa.

Empowering the Next Generation

One of the most significant ways libraries help reduce poverty in rural South Africa is through their work with children and young people. In under-resourced communities, libraries serve as spaces for learning and personal development. Programs such as after-school tutoring, reading clubs and skills workshops help improve literacy and encourage a lasting interest in education.

By supporting the education of the next generation, libraries play a vital role in breaking the cycle of poverty that has held many families back for generations. For young adults, libraries offer opportunities for personal development and career advancement. Workshops on job readiness, training on resume writing, application processes and interview skills are often conducted in collaboration with organizations.

These programs give young people the tools they need to succeed in the job market and secure employment, thus enhancing their economic prospects and contributing to local economic growth.

Access to Information and Resources for Adults

Public libraries also serve as vital resources for adults seeking to improve their lives. In rural South Africa, many adults face unemployment or underemployment, often due to limited skills or restricted access to information. Libraries help address this gap by offering resources that go beyond traditional reading and language support.

Today, public libraries play an important role in promoting Media and Information Literacy (MIL). In an increasingly digital world, they help individuals develop the skills needed to critically engage with information, assess sources and use digital tools responsibly. Supported by UNESCO, MIL equips people to navigate online spaces safely and build trust in digital technologies.

This includes addressing challenges such as the spread of misinformation and disinformation, hate speech and the growing decline in trust toward media and digital technologies like artificial intelligence. By offering MIL resources alongside traditional literacy programs, libraries empower individuals to make informed decisions and engage more effectively with the information ecosystem. Over time, these efforts contribute to reducing poverty in rural South Africa by strengthening digital confidence, critical thinking and access to opportunity.

Success Stories: Impacting Lives in Rural Communities

One notable success story is the African Library Project. This nonprofit organization establishes libraries in rural and underserved communities across Africa. The initiative has played a key role in improving literacy rates and expanding educational opportunities by collecting and distributing books to schools and local libraries.

Through partnerships with community members and volunteers, the African Library Project helps create sustainable, resource-rich libraries that support both students and adults. These efforts not only provide access to essential learning materials but also encourage a culture of reading, helping to bridge educational gaps and promote lifelong learning across the continent.

Overcoming Challenges and Looking Ahead

Despite the positive impact that public libraries have had, challenges remain. Many libraries in rural South Africa face challenges, including a lack of competent, qualified staff and outdated, limited resources. However, there is hope.

Efforts are underway to address these challenges. Recent studies and advocacy initiatives highlight the important role libraries play in development, particularly as public access points for information and communication technologies (ICTs) and community-based programs. Organizations such as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) are actively working to amplify the impact of African libraries and expand their role in development efforts.

These efforts, supported by local and international advocates, reflect a growing recognition of libraries’ transformative power to foster development and improve access to information in underserved communities. With sustained support, public libraries can become powerful agents of change in the fight against rural poverty. By providing access to knowledge, skills and opportunities, they help individuals build better futures for themselves and their communities.

– Chris Tang

Chris is based in Singapore and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr