"Education is the great engine of
personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant
can become a doctor, that a son of a mineworker can become the head of the
mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.
It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates
one person from another"
-
Nelson Mandela
Mahamadou sent me a link this week to a recent publication
regarding educational data collected from Sub-Saharan Africa. While admittedly there are some countries that
are providing well for their students, the majority “fall far below” as we
would say. The information collected from 45 countries in the region
illustrates a variety of factors that affect the quality of education for these
children including teacher training, resource availability (ex: text books), and
basic services such as electricity, sanitation, water.
As I read through the articles that are written by and
intended for Americans, the information seems appalling that we have such a
disparity between early childhood education from one school, county, state to
the next. But when I look through the pages of “have nots” in this article I
gain a larger perspective of what we do have and take for granted every day.
I fuss because I only have 29 text books and 34 students,
but in many areas of Africa there are less than ½ the necessary books to go
around, in fact, in Cameroon there are 13 children for each mathematics text
book (UNESCO, 2012, figure 4)!
What is more unfathomable is the fact that in many countries, less than ½ of
their schools have no toilets or potable water.
And the next time I want to scream because I have more students in my
classroom than I have chairs – I’ll remember the under-trained teachers in Mali
who have between 55-65 students in their 1st thru 3rd
grade classrooms and consider that the primary reason for lower class sizes by
the 6th grade is the fact that many students do not stay in school
that long. In addition, it is estimated
that an increase of more than ¾ of the current teaching force will need to be added
within the next few years to keep pace with the rise in school age children
(2012, p. 10)
Equity
issues do certainly exist and must be address in America – that is not argued.
But when I look at the images of these children, I have a new respect for those
who are fighting tirelessly for real change overseas.
UNESCO.
(2012). School and Teaching Resources in Sub-Saharan Africa, Analysis of the 2011 UIS Regional Data
Collection on Education. UIS Information Bulletin No9. Retrieved from http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/Documents/ib9-regional-education-africa-2012-en-v5.pdf
You have certainly helped me gain a better perspective on how much we take for granted in the US. That I should complain at all is embarrasing...I am humbled by your post. Very informative and eloquent!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteThe state of education in other countries is always interesting to me because it usually falls so far on one end of the spectrum. You have examples such as Africa which are far below educational standards based on what we have here in America, yet compared to some Southeast Asian countries, both of us are examples of horrible educational standards, supplies, and goals. What is even more amazing is the important factor between the nations that is causing these problems and what is allowing them to continue. In Africa, many of the causes behind their educational delay is due to health and financial concerns, while here in the US, it's pretty evident that the lack of prime educational opportunity is due to priority-the funds go to other places as well as a significant lack in healthcare. But while this truth is immediately evident in Africa, it is not so much here. We do a "good job" at covering up our own inequities.
Thank you for your detailed post. Really, many things happen in different countries in the education of young children that blows the mind. The picture of children sitting under the tree for the benefit of education is serious but to be honest, that is the best available to them in their country. Inequality is real and excellence is very far off but I hope we will be able to make the change possible when we have the opportunity to push for support and development in these areas.
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteYou are right, it is important to remember what we do have in this country compared to others in the area of education. It is sad to hear that the reason for class sizes being smaller by the sixth grade is because many of the children can no longer attend. I know when we think of how to help change the world it can seem overwhelming but if we can start with making changes in our own communities then maybe the ripple effect will take place and reach children and educational systems in other communities.