Information and stories on education.

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How the Philippines is Prioritizing Education

The Philippines is Prioritizing Education
In the dynamic landscape of the Philippines, a technological revolution in the form of e-learning has been reshaping the educational landscape and subsequent economic opportunities. 

With around 20 million Filipinos living in poverty as of 2021, the country is struggling with high poverty rates. Perpetuated by ongoing conflicts, poor educational infrastructure and COVID-19, the poverty crisis in the Philippines has been negatively affecting the education system for decades. However, various solutions to counteract this high rate, including overseas aid, infrastructure improvement and health care system improvements, are yielding positive results. Here is information about how the Philippines is prioritizing education in an effort to combat poverty.

The Ways the Philippines is Prioritizing Education

This article covers the role of education in poverty eradication. Low investments in traditional education over the past decades and outdated teaching methods have led to a high number of children struggling to receive a formal education. As of 2016, the number of children outside of education stands at 2.8 million. When poverty is higher, families often choose work for children over education, perpetuating a cycle of poverty that can continue for generations. 

Starting from the beginning, education can act as a springboard for children to increase their opportunities and advance themselves beyond poverty. Without good educational systems, a cycle of poverty can begin before the child reaches adulthood, which is why addressing educational issues is key to breaking through this cycle and fostering an environment where a child can choose their own future. 

The Alternate Learning System (ALS)

The Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a parallel learning system to the formal education system in the Philippines. Established by the Department for Education, the ALS aims to provide education to Filipinos who have not had the chance to finish their formal education. The ALS is more flexible, meaning that barriers to education can often be overcome through it. 

While many communities in the Philippines find themselves cut off from formal education establishments, ALS can operate within communities in libraries and community spaces. Participants can access materials online, meaning access to the internet, something which is becoming far more common, is the only barrier. ALS is empowering individuals to acquire fundamental skills in literacy, numeracy and essential life competencies, enhancing economic prospects for them and their families.

The Open University

Higher education has often been difficult to access due to financial constraints and geographical boundaries. The University of the Philippines’ Open University originated in 1995, aiming to pioneer online degree programs. This opens up options for people living in rural and underserved regions, as well as working people and single parents, to pursue higher-paying prospects and enhance social mobility. 

The Open University offers free courses, and one can take them online. In the Philippines, higher education comprises colleges, which primarily offer vocational courses, and universities, which focus on classical academic courses. The improvements in higher education have seen a marked increase in students in recent years. In the 2006–17 period, there was a 40% growth in enrollment in higher education, with 3,590,000 students enrolled in some measure of higher education. 

The Good News

With a renewed government emphasis on the importance of education, reforms have started to take shape. One such initiative is the 2015 Education for All program, which aims to equip all Filipinos with ‘functional literacy’ — the capability to read, write and perform basic mathematical calculations. The World Bank also estimates that the Government has increased public spending by 60% between 2010–2015, providing the means to hire more teachers and the provision of more resources to students. The 2016 K–12 reforms make it mandatory for children to attend education up to the age of 13, and build on plans to build more schools and expand the curriculum to science and vocational-based subjects. 

As internet access becomes more widespread, the rolling out of e-learning becomes an increasingly potent driver of societal transformation. The achievements of the ALS, Open University and various government reforms operate beside a variety of other complementary programs all targeting increased access to education. The Philippines is prioritizing education and embracing the power of educational inclusivity, and as a result, creating a reality that empowers its citizens to choose their own future. 

– Myron Westgarth
Photo: Unsplash

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Combating Child Illiteracy in Indonesia

Child Illiteracy in Indonesia
With 42% of Indonesia’s population dwelling in rural areas, the lack of access to education and literacy programs for children is a pressing issue. According to UNICEF, in the remote Papua province, more than 50% of 5-year-old children have never attended school, and of those who are enrolled in education, only 6% of them can read. Another study that the Innovation for Indonesia’s School Children program (INOVASI) conducted revealed that 43% of Grade 2 students failed a basic literacy test. 

The Situation

There are numerous contributing factors to the high levels of child illiteracy in Indonesia. Teacher training is poor quality, with repeated absences of teachers and principals. The value of education and literacy is often overlooked, especially in rural areas where skilled jobs and higher levels of education are largely absent. This leads to a community culture that does not value reading which is compounded by the fact that children’s books are often expensive and inaccessible, with public library services only operating in urban areas. 

The effects of child illiteracy can reverberate long into adulthood, with fewer employment prospects available for those unable to read or write, as well as struggling to be independent due to the inability to make informed decisions based on reading material. Child illiteracy can also create generational patterns, as parents who grew up placing less emphasis on education and reading are more likely to prioritize education less for their own children. However, child illiteracy in Indonesia is now a well-recognized issue, with multiple initiatives in place working to improve literacy levels and the quality of education offered to children. 

Early Grade Literacy

UNICEF initiated the ‘Early Grade Literacy’ program in 2015. The objective of the EGL project is to enhance students’ reading and writing skills by educating teachers on how to provide an efficient, effective and creative educational environment. 

The teachers are trained in classroom admin, methods to develop literacy, positive discipline methods and how to manage libraries. Ibu Wanggai, a primary school teacher in Jayapura has seen a “remarkable” improvement in her students since working alongside the EGL program. After learning more creative methods to engage her students in learning, and creating a colorful “reading corner” in her classroom, her students are now much more able to make literacy advancements and spend more time reading. 

Since the project’s inception, more than 40 primary schools in the Supiori District have received a total of 18,000 books and learning modules, reaching more than 2,500 children across the province. 

Innovation for Indonesia’s School Children (INOVASI) Program

In collaboration with the Indonesian and Australian governments, INOVASI has been working to ameliorate child illiteracy in Indonesia since 2016. Following numerous surveys and analyses of the roots of the issue, the Indonesian Ministry of Education administered a list of books approved for early grades education, as well as new legislation that now makes it easier for authors to submit books for approval for early education. 

INOVASI is also working alongside the government to update textbooks used in schools, with a special focus on gender and inclusivity. It has also connected Australian authors and illustrators with the Indonesian industry to boost the diversity of literature available to children. In 2022 alone, the government was able to grant more than 12 million books to 7,609 remote primary schools across the country. 

Conclusion

The remoteness of many communities in Indonesia combined with the lower prioritization of reading and writing skills has meant that children in Indonesia are struggling in the classroom. Thanks to inspirational and effective initiatives such as the Early Grade Literacy program and INOVASI, efforts to combat child illiteracy are proving effective and bode well for the youth of the country. 

– Eleanor Moseley
Photo: Flickr

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The Top 3 Facts About Child Poverty in Tajikistan

Child Poverty in Tajikistan Tajikistan is the most impoverished country in Central Asia. Due to inadequate educational resources, lack of job opportunities and expanding families, 66% of Tajikistan’s children suffer from poverty. With almost 50% of the population under 25, that makes child poverty in Tajikistan a great disparity within the country’s overall 12.6% poverty rate.

3 Facts About Child Poverty in Tajikistan

  1. Lack of Infrastructure for Education. On average, a student in Tajikistan only spends 6.8 years in school. Though the country has an adult literacy rate over 99%, 11% of Tajik children cannot read simple sentences before the end of their primary education. By the time they are 18, 11% of school-age children drop out to work and support their families.
  2. Child Labor and Seasonal Markets. Though it is illegal for children under 15 to work, 15–20% of the labor force comes from child labor. Around 200,000 children aged 5–14 are working to support their families in making ends meet, while 64,000 are working unpaid. The economy in Tajikistan is primarily agriculture-based, making their markets seasonal, so when the winter comes, many families lose their primary sources of income and feel the impacts of poverty even more. Disproportionately, this struggle impacts families with numerous children, because of how expensive and hard it is to obtain food.
  3. Prominent Malnutrition. Without access to clean water, nutritious varieties of food, and with subpar sanitary practices, many children in Tajikistan lack the vital nutrients and minerals necessary for them to live healthy lives, and only 40% get the necessary nutrients they need. Mostly, malnutrition harms those in rural areas due to poor food accessibility and monetary restrictions, affecting 20% or more of Tajik children. Due to significant deficiencies, Tajik children feel the results of undernutrition through anemia as well as low vitamin A and iodine levels. Four in 10 children are anemic, and 41% of women 11–55 are anemic.

How USAID’s Feed the Future Program Is Working to End Child Poverty

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hunger reached half a million Tajik people. To support people’s health and wellness during this time, USAID provided necessary resources and aid. This included nutrition and health clinics for 178,748 children, as well as assistance for 2,782 children showing signs of malnutrition to overcome low weight and growth stunting. By making nutritious goods such as dense vegetables available to communities, the Feed the Future Program was able to increase proper nutrient intake from 18% to 53% in children 6 to 23 months old, and from 18% to 23% for those being breastfed.

They furthermore helped to amend local laws on access to clean drinking water, helping the Tajik government deliver safe water to its citizens. By providing $10.2 million in relief efforts, USAID was able to provide Tajik children with proper nutrition and sanitation.

– Nadia Soifer
Photo: Flickr

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5 Ways the Global Citizen Festival Is Changing the World

Global Citizen Festival Is Changing the World
Global Citizen is an advocacy organization focused on ending global poverty and addressing critical issues worldwide. Hugh Evans and Simon Moss founded Global Citizen in 2008 to mobilize leaders and engage the public. Since its start, the organization has taken off and been incredibly successful. One way Global Citizen raises awareness is by hosting an annual festival. The festival aims to raise awareness about global issues like inequality, poverty, education and changing weather patterns. The event inspires people to make a difference and advocate for change. The Global Citizen Festival is changing the world in five important ways.

5 Ways the Global Citizen Festival is Changing the World

  1. Takes Action: Potential festival attendees must complete specific tasks to be eligible for ticket selections. Each action taken earns a certain number of points. Activities for this year’s festival include uploading activism videos, sending out tweets, signing petitions, taking quizzes and sending messages. Instead of purchasing tickets, people must earn them. Global citizens completed 2 million actions in 2022 before the festival began. Since the first festival in 2012, around 34 million actions have been taken. These actions create immense change and push leaders and the public to make a difference.
  2. Raises Awareness: One big part of the festival is incorporating celebrities and musicians to bring awareness to global issues. Global Citizen creates lineups to bring in fans from all over the world. The understanding of current issues is raised by bringing in fans and completing action tasks. This year’s lineup features Megan Thee Stallion, Lauryn Hill, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Conan Gray and Stray Kids. By utilizing celebrities and music, the festival can bring in 60,000 people. That is 60,000 more people making a difference. The festival is also live-streamed and broadcast so people all over the world can watch it, which allows more people to engage with the festival and support the message. The influence of celebrities is enormous, too. Promoting and engaging with the celebration on social media helps raise awareness and promote the event.
  3. Education: The global citizen festival is only possible with education first. Global Citizen is constantly working towards educating people about current issues and what they can do to help. The festival provides engaging opportunities to learn and collect information about global problems. The festival has panels, workshops, personal stories and exhibits to educate and reach people deeper. Before, during and after the event, education is possible. Education is vital in a world where poverty has shown no sign of stopping. The festival is changing the world through this education and engagement.
  4. Mobilizes Leaders: Global Citizen targets the public to make a change and encourages leaders, too — the festival pressures leaders to support initiatives and legislation that empower our world and alleviate global poverty. Last year, many leaders made pledges on stage and through video calls to make a difference. Places like Ghana, Canada, Norway, Germany and many more made these promises. The festival also mobilized partners to agree to new financial and policy agreements to evoke a more significant change. The Global Citizen Festival prides itself on mobilizing leaders and creating a safer space for everyone. Leaders continue to join the cause and address the world’s most pressing issues.
  5. Fundraising: Although citizens must earn general admission tickets, the festival still raises money through donations. Partners, sponsorships, the world’s wealthy and the general public are all contributors. In 2022, the festival raised $2.4 billion to fight global poverty. The festival looks to match or beat that number this year. Now more than ever, money is needed to make a difference in alleviating poverty. Although the festival primarily focuses on mobilization and advocacy, the funds help end poverty and other global challenges.

Looking Ahead

The Global Citizen Festival is changing the world. The event shows how decisive collective action can be and how advocacy can come from anyone. Since its start, the festival has inspired millions of people to make a change and fight extreme poverty. Through the use of celebrities and musicians, the festival can educate and empower individuals. It inspires leaders and organizations to commit to preserving the world’s future. 

– Madison Rogers
Photo: Flickr

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5 Active NGOs in Afghanistan

NGOs in Afghanistan
Throughout the world, countless nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are battling against abuses such as poverty, changing weather patterns and hunger. In Afghanistan, human rights abuses have been skyrocketing, and homelessness has become the new norm. More than 40% of Afghanistan’s population lives below the poverty line, in desperate need of help. Here are five NGOs Active in Afghanistan that are fighting these pressing issues.

5 NGOs in Afghanistan

  1. Afghan Institute of Learning: The Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) seeks to equip all vulnerable Afghans, particularly women and children, with the knowledge and abilities to take care of themselves. Through community-based programming, AIL is increasing access to high-quality education and health care, empowering communities to strengthen their populations. The objective is to lay the groundwork for effective health and education systems in Afghanistan that will serve the needs of the population both today and in the future. Through health facilities, educational institutions and training programs, AIL, which was founded by an Afghan woman and is primarily operated by women, reaches thousands of people every year.
  2. Islamic Relief: Dr. Hany El-Banna and a group of students established Islamic Relief in 1984 to address the growing famine in Africa. The organization’s initial endeavor was to help a farm in Sudan, and years later, it started to broaden its reach outside of Africa, providing immediate relief to people in Pakistan, Iraq and finally Afghanistan. Islamic Relief is committed to helping vulnerable people who are in need. It achieves this by raising money for local projects and providing essentials like food and clothing. It has also implemented development initiatives aimed at long-term capacity building for vulnerable populations.
  3. Women for Afghan Women: In order to serve the Afghan immigrant populations in New York, Women for Afghan Women (WAW) originated in 2001. Before introducing comparable programs in Afghanistan, it participated in community outreach initiatives all around the region. It now works to advocate for and empower Afghan women and girls in both the U.S. and Afghanistan. Women for Afghan Women has reached more than 1.6 million women since its founding through various activities and services. Every year in the U.S., on average, more than 8,000 Afghan women receive assistance from their outreach activities. Additionally, it has approximately 800 employees working in Afghanistan to support the execution of its initiatives there.
  4. International Committee of the Red Cross: Henry Dunant established the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1863 to offer medical care to combat casualties. Years later, as World War I started to claim more lives, the ICRC increased its humanitarian activities across all of Europe. The organization persisted in offering assistance during World War II and is currently one of the most significant humanitarian organizations in existence. The International Committee of the Red Cross has helped thousands of Afghans since its foundation. For instance, it cared for approximately 50,000 injured patients in 2021. In its physical therapy facilities around the nation, the ICRC helped more than 79,000 patients in the same year. Furthermore, it has increased more than 49,000 people’s access to water.
  5. ActionAid International: Cecil Jackson-Cole established ActionAid International in 1972 to defend the rights of women most impacted by armed conflict, humanitarian crises and natural catastrophes. It started its first projects in Afghanistan in 2002 with the goal of ensuring that kids could go to school and get an education. Since then, the organization has established a number of programs that empower Afghan women and help them assert their rights. ActionAid International opposes social and cultural conventions that marginalize women and expose them to violence or discrimination. Additionally, it has advocacy, strategic and humanitarian programming capabilities to advance gender equality across Afghanistan. The organization provides training and tools to female leaders, empowering them to promote social change in their communities and advancing the rights of vulnerable women. ActionAid International has helped more than 100,000 people in five different Afghan provinces since its founding. For instance, it constructed a well in Afghanistan so that more than 1,000 local students could access safe drinking water.

Making a Difference in Afghanistan

In a country where the most vulnerable people face countless challenges, recognizing NGOs in that are making a real difference appears to be vital. These organizations work tirelessly to provide aid, assistance and support to those who need it most. 

– Jake Marks
Photo: Unsplash

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Equity Index in Nepal Transforms Education for the Disadvantaged

Equity Index in Nepal Equitable access to school increased significantly in Nepal between 2006 and 2016. The gender gap in school enrollments reduced by 2.8% during this 10-year period. However, the government noticed that other disparities limited access to quality education for children.

The government created the Consolidated Equity Strategy for the School Education Sector in 2014 to strengthen equity in education, primarily through measuring existing disparities and taking action to address them. Nepal’s Equity Index was launched in 2017 to operationalize the equity strategy and target the most disadvantaged school districts.

An Innovative Financing Tool for the Education Sector

The Ministry of Education developed the Equity Index with support from UNICEF and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), World Bank. It is an innovative tool that enables the Ministry to rank the prevalence of disparities in educational outcomes, access and participation in schools and allocate resources to schools based on data that calls out specific needs. It exists within the Education Management Information System (EMIS) in the Department of Education.

The Equity Index uses data on gender, geography, socio-economic status, ethnicity and caste, and disability to create an “equity score” for each district. The planners and policy-makers rank districts according to their respective index scores. The data and the index are shared at all levels in the education sector to ensure the inclusion of district-specific disparities. This data sharing helps the government allocate resources as part of budget planning activity and considers the outcomes for further planning.

Indicators of Education Outcomes

A few critical components or indicators were needed to measure the efficacy of the Equity Index in Nepal. These include the percentage of children not enrolled in schools, survival rates (children repeating levels and/or dropping out), learning outcomes and levels of education: Basic (Grades 1-8) and Secondary (Grades 9-12).

Nepal’s Equity Index Piloted in 2017

Nepal’s basic education sector encompasses over 30,000 schools and approximately 8 million students between Grades 1 and 10. In 2017, more than 700,000 children of school age were not in primary or secondary school across the country.

Schools are allocated a budget annually based on the number of students enrolled. However, the needs of these schools could be different. For example, a school that needs some sort of food scheme for students may be in a community that cannot afford school supplies. In such cases, the Equity Index could aid in helping decision-makers allocate the extra funds needed to procure school supplies.

Using the Equity Index, the government identified five districts as part of the initial scope for targeted interventions in 2017. The interventions are usually proposed by the district stakeholders (which could include parents and guardians), including communication campaigns and community mobilization for children who are out of school. The Equity Index observed that out of 109,500 children who were out of school in these five districts, approximately 22% enrolled due to these interventions.

Reaching the Disadvantaged Made Feasible

Nepal’s Equity Index resulted in remarkable progress, increasing coverage from 6% (5 out of 75 districts chosen in 2017) to 20% by 2019, enabling the government to allocate additional budget for targeted interventions in these districts.

In 2019, the U.N. verified that there was more than a 50% reduction in out-of-school children in these targeted districts.

Understanding the nature of barriers to access and learning is critical to ensuring inclusion and equity in the education sector. The Equity Index in Nepal enables its government to compare severities in disparities across districts and take the necessary actions to guarantee targeted interventions where they are most needed.

– Sudha Krishnaswami
Photo: Flickr

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The Programs Addressing Learning Poverty

Learning Poverty
Poverty and illiteracy are closely intertwined. In impoverished areas, access to education can often be financially out of reach, exacerbating other related issues such as hunger and limited resources. Globally, there are at least 763 million adults who lack basic literacy skills, with two-thirds of this population being women. Moreover, in low-income countries, approximately 60% of 10-year-olds struggle with learning poverty, preventing them from reading or comprehending simple stories.

Why Pursue Literacy?

Literacy often bridges the barrier between being financially destitute and successfully independent. After age 5, a child’s survival can increase up to 31% when their mother has some level of education. Furthermore, global studies indicate a 9% increase in hourly earnings for every extra year of schooling a child receives. 

Literacy is a tool to battle the inequalities of poverty. It allows chances for social mobility and economic growth, which fosters both community and individual development, as well as equality. Marginalized groups such as women and girls have even less access to education than others and coupled with poverty, sexism is exasperated through a myriad of societal factors. When impoverished women are provided with more opportunities for literacy, they have greater life choices for themselves and go on to positively impact the health and education of their families. 

COVID-19

With the onset of the COVID-19 virus, worldwide literacy programs struggled to accommodate new, unknown challenges. Prolonged school closures and varying management strategies led to an increase in learning poverty among children around the world. 

In low and middle-income countries worldwide, the incidence of learning challenges has risen by 13%. Before the pandemic, 57% of the global population faced educational difficulties, but this number has since surged to 70%. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 80% of primary school-aged children currently struggle to comprehend basic written text, a stark increase from the pre-pandemic rate of approximately 50%. Similarly, in South Asia, 78% of children struggle with reading, up from the pre-pandemic rate of 60%.

In response to the learning crises presented by COVID-19, a number of countries have implemented the RAPID framework, a guide to “tackle learning losses caused by the pandemic and build forward better that is based on five evidence-based policy actions.” The policy responses focus on 60 low and middle-income countries, with reports paying special attention to Cambodia, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, India, Mongolia, Romania and Zambia.

The acronym RAPID stands for:

  • Reach every child and keep them in school.
  • Assess learning levels regularly.
  • Prioritize teaching the fundamentals.
  • Increase the efficiency of instruction, including through catch-up learning.
  • Develop psychosocial health and well-being.

Only one-fifth of the 60 countries had comprehensive strategies to accelerate literacy and education. Still, there is room for more work.

Programs Fighting That Aim to Alleviate Learning Poverty

Around the world, there are programs that exist to promote universal literacy. 

  • The World Literacy Foundation — This global nonprofit gathers global literacy leaders and organizations to work together in a variety of different sectors. It provides free books and other resources to children in Australia, South America, the United Kingdom (U.K.), the United States (U.S.) and Africa. 
  • The International Literacy Association (ILA) — Formerly the International Reading Association, this group is a membership organization of more than 300,000 literacy educators, researchers and experts across 128 countries. The ILA advocates for children’s rights to read and for “excellent literacy instruction in reading, writing, communicating and critical thinking” around the world. It also publishes peer-reviewed research and provides professional development and support for teachers everywhere. 
  • The Malala Fund — This literacy organization is devoted to uplifting girls in the quest for universal literacy. Through its Education Champion Network, it supports local educators and advocates in low-income regions where women and girls lack opportunities to attend secondary school. The organization focuses on addressing the factors that contribute to the educational disadvantages faced by girls. These factors include poverty, conflict and gender discrimination, which can result in child labor. Many girls work for extremely low wages, sometimes as little as one cent per day, making it difficult for them to access educational opportunities. Additionally, the organization highlights the challenges faced by girls affected by conflict who often reside in refugee camps with limited access to education. To address these issues, the organization invests in promoting universal literacy through advocates and activists in various regions, including Turkey, Tanzania and Pakistan, among others.  
  • The Literacy and Community Development Programme (LCDP) — This program helps poor and marginalized groups, such as ethnic minorities, prison inmates, people with disabilities and women, in remote areas learn to read. It is unique in that it targets adults 15 and up, as opposed to children. These people who had little to no formal education in their youths are presented with opportunities to attain literacy. It also champions REFLECT, an acronym for Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques, introduced first in 1997. It provides students with resources beyond “primers and other predetermined reading materials,” instead using tools such as maps, calendars, matrices and diagrams. 

Going Forward

The need for educational resources for the global poor has always been pressing, but in the wake of the changing, post-pandemic world, it is vital to consider the future. A world of economic liberty and human rights is impossible to achieve without universal literacy. Learning to read is just one step toward progress, but a vital one. By supporting the myriad of programs that look to instate that, people around the world can participate in steps toward a new future and eliminate learning poverty.

– Char Nieberding
Photo: Flickr

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The Hanging Library Tackles Child Illiteracy in Nigeria

Illiteracy in Nigeria
In January 2023, Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria representative, made a statement highlighting that, in Nigeria, “75% of children aged 7-14 years cannot read a simple sentence or solve a simple math problem.” Education quality, literacy and school attendance is one of the ongoing struggles in Nigeria, preventing many young children from acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills to find employment and lift themselves out of poverty. While primary education is officially free and mandatory for children, the reality vastly differs. Only 61% of children under 11 regularly attend school at the primary level, and in the northern states of Nigeria, the general net school attendance rate is just 53%. Due to low literacy rates in the country, efforts are underway to improve illiteracy in Nigeria.

About Illiteracy in Nigeria

There are a variety of factors that prevent children from receiving quality education. For instance, in the northern states where the education is predominantly Qur’anic, religious educators do not teach foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Additionally, cultural/societal norms discourage girls’ formal education. In addition, in states such as Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, which are experiencing conflict, classrooms have faced destruction and schools remain shut.

At a literacy conference in 2018, Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu highlighted his view that illiteracy in Nigeria is responsible for “rising incidence of drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, examination malpractice, cultism, armed robbery, human trafficking, kidnapping, communal clashes and terrorism.”

In Nigeria, a literacy gap exists between genders and between urban and rural locations, highlighting the socioeconomic norms that prevent access to quality education from being a universal right for children across the nation. Notably, in 2018, the literacy rate for males in urban areas stood at 86.4% whereas the rate for females in rural areas stood at 35.4%, according to a publication by the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO).

The Hanging Library from the Neo Child Initiative

The Hanging Library, a project started in 2017 by the nonprofit The Neo Child Initiative, is an example of a creative method to facilitate and encourage reading among Nigerian children, helping reduce illiteracy in Nigeria and improve school attendance.

The project entails utilizing unused fabric to create a “handmade library” that looks like a hanging shoe rack nailed to a wall. The rack holds up to 50 books. The materials come from donations from volunteers and a book drive. So far, the initiative has established 50 hanging libraries and provided schools with more than 5,000 books in six states in Nigeria.

The founders of the project understood that, with more than half of the country’s population living on less than $2 per day, there is very little disposable income available for books and educational materials. By increasing children’s access to books, the organization hopes that literacy levels can start to improve across the board and children can gain exposure to a more expansive worldview.

The Benefits of Literacy

Even on a local level, improved literacy and better education quality will have profound effects on the future of Nigerian children. An undeniable necessity for employment, heightened literacy will help youths participate in the global knowledge economy and provide them with the skills to make calculated decisions in their daily life and to lift themselves out of poverty.

Furthermore, encouraging reading and high literacy from a young age will have generational impacts. Children who grow up reading will prioritize education over labor for their own children, creating a positive cycle and also enabling the parents to engage and help their children with schoolwork.

– Eleanor Moseley
Photo: Flickr

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Strengthening Education in Colombia

Strengthening Education in Colombia
Colombia, located at the northernmost end of South America, has recently become an emerging power among second-world countries. Despite its prominent role in global trade and growing economy, some sectors of Colombia are lagging behind this development. In particular, strengthening education in Colombia is important because the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) suggests that more than 70% of 15-year-olds in Colombia lack basic literacy and numeracy.

Due to Colombia’s lack of emphasis on education, students often redo classes, and some even fail to enroll in school at all. In fact, according to World Education in 2018, the percentage of enrollments stood at only 42.5% for incoming high school students. Additionally, the number of students who had repeated at least one grade increased from 38% to 43% between 2009 and 2015. Out-of-school children are more susceptible to gang recruitment, drugs and teen pregnancies. Additionally, a lack of education ultimately ensures individuals remain stuck in cycles of poverty. In fact, the government statistics agency DANE highlights that about 19.6 million Colombians out of a general population of 50 million endured conditions of poverty by the close of 2021 while extreme poverty affected 6.1 million Colombians.

Strengthening Education in Colombia

In 2016, Andreas Schleicher, the director for Education and Skills at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), presented a report in Barranquilla with Colombia’s Minister of Education about education in Colombia. The report said, “As Colombia enters the global economy, its educational success will be measured by boosting national standards so that Colombian children match up to children around the world.”

The government of Colombia developed the Everyone Learns education program in 2012, targeting “elementary students in public schools in the poorest areas of the country.” This program, led by education minister Maria Fernanda Campo, focuses on math and language and has positively impacted more than 2.4 million students. The whole premise of this program is to hire some of the country’s most renowned teachers to teach in low-income areas of the country. This provides a better quality of teaching in necessary classes, including math, reading and language.

Drawing Inspiration from Others

Many impoverished children in Colombia are unable to attend school because they lack proper uniforms, books and supplies, which diminishes their opportunity to rise out of poverty. Local government funds or loans should be made available to low-income families so they can buy their children the necessary school supplies. Colombia can look to Brazil for inspiration. For example, in Brazil, the program known as Bolsa Família helps provide school supplies, clothing and shoes to lower-income families so their children can regularly attend classes. As a result, the enrollment rate in Brazilian schools increased significantly. In fact, in grades one to four, enrollment rates increased by 2.8% in the initial year and by about 5.5% after three years.

Another initiative Colombia could draw inspiration from is the Programa Nacional de Becas y Crédito Educativo in Peru. This program administers scholarships and education credits to students in poverty. Established in 2016, the program has had a positive impact on students. For the thousands of Colombians who lack the financial means to pursue education, following these programs could prove essential. By increasing the quality of teaching and making schooling affordable to students across the country, Colombia could see enrollment rates spike and tremendous motivation from students. More resources should be allocated to early childhood education to raise education outcomes and ensure that all students have a fair chance of success.

Although strengthening education in Colombia is no easy feat, with strong programs in place, the country can start reversing the negative trends in the education system. To make a real difference, though, Colombia needs to focus future efforts on solving issues that make it challenging for families to enroll their children in schools.

– Neil Chandran
Photo: Flickr

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How Venus Williams Is Promoting Educational Rights

Williams is Promoting Educational RightsVenus Ebony Starr Williams, like her sister Serena Williams, is a professional tennis player. Growing up in a poverty-stricken community, Williams struggled to achieve success. As a former No.1 tennis player, Williams has won several grand slams, including two at the U.S. Open and five at Wimbledon. As the first Black woman tennis player to become No. 1 in the modern era, Williams has left a legacy for women globally. Not only has she paved the way for women’s tennis, but Williams is also promoting educational rights for women globally.

Humanitarian Work

According to UNESCO, around 244 million children in Africa between the ages of 6 and 18 are out of school. The Human Rights Watch estimates that more than 49 million women in Sub-Saharan Africa are out of primary and secondary schooling, undermining their opportunities and limiting their rights. Early marriages are a factor in the lack of women’s education in Africa. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 40% of girls below the age of 18 are married, preventing them from receiving a proper education.

In response, Williams is promoting educational rights for women by partnering with CARE, an international humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. The aim of the partnership is to raise awareness and encourage girls’ education in developing regions by supporting programs in Kenya and Malawi. According to UNESCO, 74% of the Malawi population lives in poverty, and education for girls often ends in primary school. Williams is promoting educational rights by contributing $25,000 to assist CARE in launching a vocational training program based in Malawi. The vocational training program has been able to reach out to 50 women in Malawi.

Educational Support in Latin America

According to the Pew Research Center, 33% of Latinos ages 18 to 24 are enrolled in school, compared to an average of 42%. The lack of education that Latinos receive is evident in the socio-economic challenges that they face. Latino families are 1.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line compared to white families.

Alongside supporting the education of African girls, Williams is promoting educational rights for Latinas. She has constantly supported the Eva Longoria Foundation, an organization that helps “Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship.”

The Eva Longoria Foundation

The Eva Longoria Foundation works by launching programs that are culturally relevant in order to enhance the learning and productivity of Latinas. According to the Eva Longoria Foundation, 17% of U.S. women are Latina, yet only 2% of them are in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workforce. The Eva Longoria Foundation launched the STEM Program, which encourages young Latinas’ love for math and science at a young age through projects like coding and robotics. Through Williams’ support of the organization, the Eva Longoria Foundation has been successful in teaching STEM skills to more than 2,000 young Latina women.

– Yana Gupta 
Photo: Flickr