What Are the Effects of Poverty on Education?
For many people who live inside the cycle of poverty, the effects of poverty on education are quite tangible. Parents may not have received an education, so they place very little value on learning. Chances are good they don’t understand the way education can break the cycle their family has been in for generations. They may feel that the jobs available to locals do not require an education.
What keeps less fortunate children away from school?
Cost of education – In some countries, education is free for children. However, even in these countries, the cost of supplies, uniforms and other needs can be more than a family can afford. This leaves a family unable to give their children access to education.
Water poverty – Lack of water also has a negative effect on education. When children must walk miles each day to find water for their family, they are unable to attend school. There simply isn’t time for both fetching water and education.
Period poverty – When girls don’t have access to menstruation supplies, they are forced to stay home from school. They simply don’t have the items they need to manage their periods safely and hygienically in order to be free from embarrassment and shame.
Lack of transportation – Sometimes transportation is a barrier to education. Kids often need to travel great distances to get to school, and when transportation methods are expensive or difficult to find, that makes education inaccessible.
Child labor – In some areas, child labor is a barrier to education. Parents feel forced to send their children away to work so they can feed their younger children. Sometimes children are abducted without their parents’ permission and forced into child labor.
GFA World creates solutions to these reasons why kids are kept out of school. Through our child sponsorship program, children and their families are given helpful resources such as tuition assistance, school supplies, uniforms, tutoring, access to clean water, supplies for menstruation, help with transportation and caring adults who keep a watchful eye on the children in the program. The staff stresses with parents the importance of their children attending school and how education helps break the cycle of poverty.
Will you help us fight the common reasons why children in the poorest parts of Asia and Africa don’t attend school?
Learn more about the effects of poverty on child development[1] Doser, Madison. “Pregnancy and poverty: Forging a path forward for families.” APHSA. September 26, 2022. https://aphsa.org/APHSABlog/mhhspp/pregnancy-and-poverty-forging-a-path-forward-for-families.aspx.
[2] “Ten top issues for women’s health.” World Health Organization. February 20, 2015. https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/ten-top-issues-for-women’s-health.
[3] Murphey, David, and Redd, Zakia. “5 Ways poverty harms children.” Child Trends. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.childtrends.org/publications/5-ways-poverty-harms-children.
[4] “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.” UNICEF. 2021. https://www.unicef.org/wash.