How does education affect poverty? Education can eradicate poverty if given the chance; those in poverty can only benefit from education. People living in poverty that are unable to attain a formal education will have a much more difficult time escaping their living and working conditions. The right education can lift people from poverty and improve their lives financially, physically and mentally.

For many countries, there is free public education, however, there are additional costs for uniforms, books or transportation. In rural areas, children may travel for hours each way to get to school on a bus. These expenses can be overwhelming for low-income families.

Sometimes the families are forced to pull children from school in order for them to work to support the family. The problem with taking children out of school to work is that it results in an education that was cut short, if it even began at all.

Poverty is more than simply not having enough money. But having an education can alleviate some of the problems faced in poverty. How does education affect poverty? Education improves food security and reduces malnutrition. By educating citizens on agriculture and farming techniques, they become capable of growing and selling their own food. This creates a source of income as well as healthy living.

Literacy allows women to read about prenatal vitamins, and other health information during pregnancy. Families can learn about the importance of drinking clean water and safely preparing food. Education reduces the spread of communicable diseases that plague poverty stricken areas. When a community does not understand how a disease is spread, it can catch like wildfire infecting many people. But through education, children and families can learn how to protect themselves against illnesses like HIV/AIDS and Ebola. Education improves gender equity. By allowing girls to be educated they are empowered to make their own decisions in life and it can cut the rates of early marriage and pregnancy.

How does education affect poverty? Education creates development, free-thinking citizens and better health and wellbeing. A good education can provide a lifetime of opportunities. Providing an education allows people living in poverty to think outside of only wondering when the next meal might be. An education can drastically improve quality of life for those living in poverty. Providing an education for the poverty-stricken allows them to provide for themselves in the future.

– Karyn Adams

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