The importance of education

Sara is 11. She goes to school and dreams of someday becoming a nurse. However, some days, her dream seems out of reach. Nearly half of all students in Sara’s country drop out of primary school. In families with limited resources, boys often leave school to start working.

Meanwhile, some parents believe that girls don’t need an education. They think it’s better for girls to stay at home and learn how to take care of a family. Some of Sara’s friends are facing strong pressure to leave school. All children, all over the world, have the right to receive an education. This right is protected by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

And yet globally, hundreds of millions of children do not attend school. Some of the largest barriers to education include poverty, gender, living in a conflict zone, having a disability, or belonging to a minority ethnic group that experiences discrimination. But education is worth fighting for. Though children in poverty often face pressure to leave school and support their families, those without an education will likely earn much less money over their lifetime. This will limit their own children's futures, causing the cycle of poverty to continue, often for generations.

Research shows that each additional year of schooling can provide more job opportunities, and increase a person’s income by ten percent. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, estimates that 420 million people would be lifted out of poverty with a secondary education. This would halve the number of people in poverty worldwide. Cultural, religious, or economic reasons often cause girls to marry early. A girl leaving the home is often seen as a way to reduce family costs.

Marriage may even be used as a way to repay debts or get much needed income. But, having the skills to find employment and earn higher incomes can help end the cycle of poverty that leads to child marriage in the first place. That is why education is particularly important for women and girls! If every girl around the world received 12 years of education, child marriage would drop by an estimated 64%. Educated girls are also more likely to know their human rights, such as the right to own property, to vote, or to earn an equal wage.

This gives them more power to speak up when their rights are being violated. Women’s education is also closely linked to children’s health. An educated mother is more likely to ensure that her children have a nutritious diet and receive medical care from trained professionals. Knowledge of hygiene and disease can greatly reduce the number of preventable deaths. According to UNESCO, each extra year of a mother’s schooling reduces the probability of infant mortality by up to ten percent.

Education is one of the most powerful tools for ending the cycle of poverty, promoting gender equality, and supporting children’s growth and development. And what’s more, educated parents are more likely to understand the importance of education, and send their own children to school. Education can lift up an entire generation ... but, only if it is accessible. That is why breaking down the barriers to education is a goal for many governments, non-governmental organisations, and charities around the world.

Thankfully, Sara’s parents support her dream. They have worked as farmers since they were children and didn’t have a chance to go to school. Now, they are determined that Sara should continue her education and hopefully one day become a nurse.