I grew up in a family where education was seen as a must. My parents always emphasized how important and precious education is to a young individuals and what a wonderful opportunity we have to study. From our perspective, education is wonderful and accessible. But the other perspective – where education is inaccessible – is alarming.
Education is a necessity and a right. The Convention on the Rights of the Child indicates that children have “the right to receive free primary education regardless of gender, background or mental and physical abilities; the right to develop one’s personality, talents and abilities to their fullest potential; the right to receive quality education in a safe, healthy and protective environment, even during emergency situations.”
Let’s face it: even though these rights are internationally documented and acknowledged, they are not fully implemented in some parts of the world due to factors like poverty, health, gender, personal problems, natural disasters and political instability. In 2006, it is reported that 75 million of children of primary-school-age are not enrolled in school and in 2007, 101 million children are not present in school!
UNICEF (‘United Nations Children’s Fund’, originally ‘United Nations International Children Emergency Fund’) seeks to recognize the basic rights educational rights of children. They provide three broad areas of work which implement projects to formalize their international goal to make education accessible to everyone.
Equal access and universal primary school completion: In some countries, many problems such as lack of healthcare and an instable government hinders children to go to school. For example, in Burundi, a new democratic government was achieved after years of civil. In an attempt to deal with political conflicts and health problems (such as HIV/AIDS) and poverty, school fees became a barrier for primary education. UNICEF works to help countries to abolish or diminish school fees, notably through providing services to children (such as meal plans) and health interventions to development safety standards.
Empowerment through Girls Education and Gender Mainstreaming:. It is reported that two-thirds of the world’s 799 million illiterate adults (over 15) were women. Not only have the girls become uneducated, but also marginalized and exploited. UNICEF provides activities that help include young girls into the schooling system and boost consistent attendance. Some of the offered programs promote life skills education with a gender focus in child- focused schools and that of which promote female role models in the realm of education,politics and development.
Interventions related to Emergencies and Post-Crisis Situations: As mentioned above, political instability and natural disasters can affect the education accessibility in certain countries. This encourages UNICEF to put forward activities that create safe learning spaces for children, provide facilities and resources for learning, promote preparedness in conflicts and disasters as well as help organize back-to-school campaigns as part of the peace dividend in post-conflict states.
Supporting each of the three broad areas of work UNICEF proposals are the two priorities that are essential for their realization. These are:
School readiness: Issues in school children tend to be more prevalent for youth entering school at an later age, rather than the prescribed early age. Elder enrollments are poorly prepared for schooling and this leads to a large number of overage students as well as high drop-out rates. In response, UNICEF takes action which includes activities that promote parenting education for adolescents in and out of school, literacy activities and early childhood care and development programs.
Quality education: UNICEF says that it is a challenge for many countries to provide quality education. Investments are mostly targeted to improving quality education and are spent instead on single factors like training teachers or school supplies, not on the whole aspect of the education as a whole. UNICEF then seeks to provide action that will improve education in a more holistic way.
Ideally, every child is entitled to the right to education, because it is a step to a better future. Not only will it bring success and fortune to their lives and families, but also to their country. Without education, the world can be a cruel place for individuals in poor countries. As UNICEF puts it, “Without an education, children are less likely to be healthy, grow strong or be safe. Without an education, they are less likely to fully participate in their communities or raise healthy children themselves one day. Without universal education, countries are less likely to achieve other development goals.” In an attempt to preserve the future, we must invest in our youth and educate them so they may sustain humanity.
(All pictures and material are credited to UNICEF source)
By Fydez Tan
Blog Writer 2009-2010, Change Tomorrows World
