admin
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child acknowledges education as a legal right of every child. Yet schooling remains a privilege to many. According to UNESCO statistics, 258 million kids and teenagers skipped school for the final academic year of 2018. More than 129 million of those people were girls, and 58 million of them were children in primary education.
Contents
1. What is education?
Education is the process by which one person gains or transfers fundamental information to another. It is also where a person:
Develops skills essential to everyday living,
Learns social norms
Develops judgment and reasoning
Learns how to discern right from wrong
The final aim of education is to assist a person in navigating life and making a positive contribution to society as they get older.
There are many different kinds of education, but conventional schooling usually determines how one’s educational success is measured. Higher educated individuals are thought to be more marketable and have a higher likelihood of earning more money.
For example, it is predicted that each extra year of education will raise a person’s future income by 10% in low-income, developing nations.
By eradicating poverty and hunger, education provides people with the opportunity for better lifestyles. This is one of the main reasons parents try to keep their children in education for as long as they can. It is also the reason why countries strive to promote expanded access to education for both adults and children.
2. What makes schooling so crucial?
There are many factors that make education essential. Generally speaking, they all tie closely to a person’s objectives in life and to their future well-being. Here are some of the other most typical justifications for why education is so significant:
Education helps a person hone their communication skills by learning how to read, write, talk and listen.
Critical reasoning is developed by education. This is essential for instructing someone on how to make choices and interact with others logically. (e.g., boosting creativity, enhancing time management).
A person’s education increases their likelihood of obtaining better jobs and helps them fulfill the requirements for entry-level positions.
Education supports gender equity and aids in the empowerment of women and girls. According to a World Bank study, giving girls an additional year of education lowers the rate of teen pregnancies by 6% and gives women more control over how many children they have.
Child mortality is decreased by education. A kid born to a mother who can read has a 50% higher chance of living past the age of five, according to UNESCO.
3. What various types of education are there?
Education is usually divided into three categories: formal education, informal education, and non-formal education.
3.1 In a formal setting
Formal education is the kind that’s usually delivered in a classroom environment at a higher education facility. Basic abilities like reading and writing are taught to students here, along with more challenging academic lessons.
It typically starts in elementary school and ends with post-secondary education. Formal learning is another name for it. It is offered by certified professors or tutors and adheres to a curriculum.
3.2 Informal learning
On the other hand, informal education is the kind that takes place away from a structured educational setting. This occurs frequently when someone learns new skills or gains information while at home, in libraries, or while using a device to browse educational websites. Another significant method of informal education is learning from local leaders.
Such education frequently lacks intention or planning, and it frequently doesn’t adhere to a set schedule or program. It is unplanned and could also be referred to as a natural educational process.
3.3 Alternative schooling
Both official and informal education share characteristics with non-formal education. Although it is systemically implemented and adheres to a schedule, it is not always carried out in a classroom setting. It typically has no age restriction and is flexible in terms of time and content.
Community-based courses, vocational training, and brief programs led by unqualified teachers are the most typical types of non-formal education.
4. What advantages does schooling have?
Before graduating from high school, low-income nations’ entire societies could undergo significant change if all students learned the fundamentals of reading. 171 million people could be helped out of poverty, according to UNESCO. But receiving an education goes beyond simply staying out of destitution. It relates to living quality, career options, and a host of other advantages, some of which are listed below.
4.1 Acquiring problem-solving abilities
Through the development of critical and logical thinking abilities, the educational system trains students how to make their own decisions. This helps kids get ready for adulthood, when making decisions of all sizes becomes a regular part of everyday life.
4.2 Self-sufficiency and freedom
Knowing how to read, write, and do basic math is liberating. When a person can read, they have access to an infinite amount of learning and knowledge. They can start a small company once they can calculate expenses and create a budget. Literacy, when combined with the ability to develop opinions, helps a person become more self-reliant and confident.
4.3 Fostering a culture of equity among people
In a perfect society, there would be no place for prejudice on the basis of race, gender, religion, social class, or literacy. The importance of schooling in this situation is important. One can form solid, well-considered opinions and learn to appreciate others’ viewpoints through education. The importance of schooling in fostering social harmony is widely acknowledged by experts.
4.4 Financial stability and stability
Education level and money are frequently related concepts. High school graduates, those who have obtained a degree, diploma, or certificate, or who have continued their education beyond the undergraduate level, have more employment possibilities globally. These may also result in better pay.
4.5 Economic expansion
In order to develop a nation’s economy, its people must be educated. Studies show that nations with higher levels of literacy are more likely to advance in both human and economic growth. Individual economic development, which is frequently connected to education, comes before national economic growth.