International Day of Education: A Global Perspective
by Arabella Adamson
In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” In 2018, the United Nations (UN) established the International Day of Education (IDE), as part of their ongoing effort to improve access to education worldwide. Educational inequality is a global issue and more must be done in order to close these attainment gaps. Having access to quality education is a human right, yet it is estimated that more than 258 million children have no access to education. Not only this, it has the power to help end poverty, raise standards of living and include everyone in sustainable development.
My reflections
Before working at Equal Education, I worked for an NGO in Rio de Janeiro whose mission was to promote education in local communities and maximise the potential of underprivileged youth and teens. By implementing a holistic approach to education, these young people were offered a pillar of support to help them gain access to educational tools. Such tools enabled them to learn more effectively and to protect themselves by exercising their rights. An example of this was with a young girl who came to our organisation every day and was struggling to read and write; her school didn’t have the capacity to recognise that she was falling behind. We coordinated with a speech therapist who volunteered her time and we were able to offer this girl the additional support she needed to be able to succeed in school and in her future.
Additionally, my experience in China confirmed how education can help lift children out of poverty. I worked for an NGO whose aims were to improve access to healthcare and education, targeted at migrant children and their families. Families with migrant status specifically struggle to access both healthcare and education in large cities, as they lack the residency permit needed to attend school or go to the doctors. Schools were set up around the city I was living in to provide these children with an education. A particular success story from our work was with a young boy who was struggling to see the whiteboard at school. He was unaware that he needed glasses and had never been able to get an eye test. The NGO provided him with glasses and from then on he began to excel at school and ended up going to university. There are multiple success stories from children being helped through education as a way out of poverty which their migrant status had trapped them in.
In my first 2 months here at Equal Education, I have seen the power that education has to help some of the most vulnerable children in our society here in the UK. The testimonies from both tutors and children show exactly how important engaging in different forms of learning can be. Reflecting on these experiences confirms that whatever country or community you find yourself in, education can have the same transformative and empowering effects, especially the power to challenge inequality.
COVID-19 call to action
The post-Covid19 recovery roadmap must focus on education as it is the key to a sustainable future with less inequality. Children must be supported to help make the most of their futures through inclusive, equitable and quality education for all. As Covid-19 continues to threaten children’s education worldwide, this must be seen as an opportunity for governments and communities to come together and find innovative solutions for children who aren’t able to access school.
Join us today in celebrating the positive impact that education has on our communities, both internationally and locally. You can read Unesco’s Futures of Education Report here.
