Many countries around the globe are facing an education crisis. Children are missing out on the opportunity to attend school and develop the skills needed to lead prosperous lives. The relationship between poverty and education is deeply intertwined. Poverty drives children out of school, and a lack of education, in turn, deepens poverty. Understanding how poverty affects education is the first step toward breaking the cycle.
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Poor resources, regional conflicts and social prejudices force children out of school and into a lifelong battle against the cycle of poverty. Because of these factors, approximately half the world's school-aged children are missing out on a critical opportunity to develop the skills they need to support a lifetime of learning.
When examined closely, the numbers are staggering:
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273 million children and youth are currently out of school worldwide |
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57% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries cannot read a simple story |
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90% of children in low-income countries are unable to read with comprehension by the end of primary school |
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Low- and middle-income countries spend only $55 per student vs. $8,543 in high-income countries |
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One in three children in conflict-affected countries are out of school |
In the face of such suffering, we must ask ourselves — what is causing this lack of basic education? And how can we come together to bring long-term solutions for these vulnerable children?
Extreme poverty remains one of the most obstinate barriers to education. Children from the poorest households are almost five times as likely to be out of school as those from higher-income households. Globally, 1 in 3 adolescent girls from the poorest households around the world has never been to school.
The impact of poverty on education can be seen in many forms. Poverty affects learning environments and student outcomes through:
a lack of trained teachers and adequate learning materials
makeshift classrooms and poor school sanitation
children who arrive at school too hungry, too sick or too exhausted from work or household chores to benefit from their lessons
greater distances to school for children in rural areas, who are more than twice as likely to be out of school as their urban peers
Beyond the classroom, poverty influences education in ways that are harder to see but are equally damaging. When families struggle to meet basic needs, education becomes secondary to survival. Children — especially girls — are often pulled out of school to work, care for siblings or contribute to household income.
The influence of poverty on education is also structural. Communities living in poverty have less political power to advocate for better schools, less adequate funding and fewer trained teachers. In conflict zones, where poverty and instability go hand in hand, school buildings often are damaged or destroyed, leaving children with no safe place to learn.
The connection between poverty and education comes down to this: Without access to education, children fail to develop the skills needed for lifelong learning. This, in turn, creates extreme barriers to earning potential and employment later in life.
When barriers to education are eliminated, children are set up to thrive in all areas of life. Education, particularly girls’ education, is one of the most powerful tools for creating economic growth. It decreases the likelihood of conflict, increases resilience and sets up future generations for wide-reaching economic and social benefits.
Several studies conducted by UNICEF confirm that additional years of education have a significant influence on a nation’s GDP per capita. Providing more education, knowledge and skills will increase an individual’s employment outlook and productivity, which in turn will increase the overall income and development of the country’s workforce. This leads to more stable communities and a brighter future for the next generation.
Education reduces poverty in measurable ways, including:
increasing the lifetime earning potential for individuals
reducing vulnerability to conflict and instability
improving health outcomes for families and communities
empowering girls and women to participate fully in society
generating broader economic growth at the national level
Divine Word Missionaries work to help impoverished communities overcome barriers by creating, rebuilding and promoting access to education for children and adults. Around the world, they establish and run schools, universities, literacy programs and vocational training schools that help vulnerable populations rise out of poverty. By working within the local communities they serve, our missionaries offer education to children who face social stigma due to tribal systems, caste systems or disease. Our work includes
teaching at universities and offering theological training at seminaries
running literacy programs that give adult learners foundational skills
operating vocational training schools that open doors to employment