Planetary

Quality Education

Education is important in solving most of our world problems.

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Knowledge enables people to break away from the cycle of poverty, and the more knowledge children, young people and adults gain, the more ideas, creations, inventions, innovation and awareness can be channeled into global sustainable development. Access to education also supports equality by improving equal rights (between different races, religions and genders) and promotes a structured, peaceful society where conflict may otherwise overwhelm communities.  Despite these benefits, 262 million children and adolescents worldwide are still not enrolled in school due to lack of trained teachers, poor infrastructure and widespread inequality.

 

Children across the world are missing out on school due to child labour (needing to work to help support their families), child marriage, discrimination and conflict.

Since the introduction of the Millennium Development Goals (in 2000, preceding the SDGs), primary school enrolment worldwide has increased from 83% (2000) to 91% (2015).

Despite the encouraging statistic above, 57 million primary age children globally are still not attending school.

The UN estimates that children living in areas of conflict make up around 50% of the above figure .

758 million people over the age of 15 cannot read or write.

Two thirds of the above figure are women. Education equips women with the tools to enter a variety of work sectors and helps to gives them a voice.

Education is more than learning how to read or write; it also provides knowledge to both children and parents on hygiene practices to keep their families healthy, sustainable agricultural methods and nutrition. Studies have shown that educated households are also more likely to purify their water, preventing disease.

171 million people globally would have the opportunity to break out of poverty with basic literacy skills.

Did you know?

An increasing number of schools are introducing ‘Forest School’ and outdoor learning into their curriculums. Studies have shown that an outdoor environment can have a greater positive impact on individual and group learning than indoor classrooms.

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What can YOU do to help?

Set up a school or community fundraiser for organisations that support education.

This could be a bake off, book exchange, jumble sale or sponsored sporting event… you choose! Oxfam and UNICEF are two of the more well-known charities, or choose a smaller group such as Classroom of Hope or Pencils of Promise.

Thinking of taking a gap year?

Why not volunteer abroad and actually help to build a school? There is nothing more rewarding than watching your hard work and effort take shape in front of your eyes, and what better way than contributing to the future of children who would love an education! UCAS provides some great links to reputable companies to volunteer through.

Encourage your school or college to partner with a school abroad.

Global Dimension offers advice and links to existing programmes, such as Link Ethiopia, which encourages students to communicate and work together, increasing awareness of diversity.

Collect materials!

Such as text books, pens, pencils, exercise books, backpacks and calculators to send to schools! Develop Africa runs a scheme, and items can also be purchased through Amazon ‘wishlists’ using the money you raise by following Tip #1!

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Young People in Action!

Muzoon Almellehan

Muzoon is a refugee from Syria who fled conflict in her home country with her family, spending three years in camps. She started working with UNICEF to campaign for children’s rights to an education, particularly girls. Muzoon has since spoken at the 2017 G20 summit in Hamburg, encouraging world leaders to prioritise education for children living in poverty or conflict, and has returned to refugee camps to meet children going through a similar experience. She is now a No Generation Lost champion for UNICEF.

Useful Links

The World's Largest Lesson Link worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org
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United Nations Link un.org
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Oxfam Link oxfam.org.uk
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UNICEF Link data.unicef.org
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Classroom Of Hope org classroomofhope.org
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Pencils Of Promise org pencilsofpromise.org
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UCAS Link ucas.com
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Global Dimension uk globaldimension.org.uk
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Link Ethiopia org linkethiopia.org
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Develop Africa org developafrica.org
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Sport Relief com sportrelief.com
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Children International org children.org
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Global Citizen Link globalcitizen.org
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Raleigh Borneo org raleighborneo.org
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Forest School Association org forestschoolassociation.org
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