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What is education? According to Nelson Mandela, “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. The word itself stems from the Latin roots ‘ē- dūcō’, meaning to raise up, or to lead forth. Indeed, the importance of a quality education in life cannot be understated; VVOB (the Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance)’s definition for a quality education is the following: “A good quality education is one that provides all learners with capabilities they require to become economically productive, develop sustainable livelihoods, contribute to peaceful and democratic societies and enhance individual well-being.” So why then, according to UNESCO, are there 264 million children who are denied one of their basic human rights and a public good? Why should these children be already disadvantaged from such a young age?
Since the turn of the millennium, almost 50 million children have gained access to basic education; however, this education is not of a high quality. It is estimated that 250 million students are still unable to read despite having spent three or more years in school. Some of the aspects lacking which are necessary in these schools are attention to childhood development, good teachers, and attention to culture. It is also proven that healthy competition between schools and students improve performance.
There is a drastic difference between the quality of education in developed and underdeveloped countries. The education in Switzerland is well known for its excellence. There is a wide range of high-quality education fee-paying private schools as well as many state-funded establishments, ensuring that all children can have a good education. This is the same in many countries in north-western Europe, such as Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. However, the same cannot be said for many countries, particularly those in the north-eastern African region. Somalia has the least functioning school system in the world, with just 10% of children going to primary school. Eritrea, Comoros, and Ethiopia fare almost as badly, and in Haiti, the 2010 earthquake left 2.5 million children without a school to go to.
It is clear that technology enhances learning, and that wealthy countries and schools can afford a quicker and more efficient education. However, the question is, is it necessary for a basic quality education? Research shows that the use of technology has not yet changed actual pedagogy, as in it has not replaced paper for education. With the right tools, a student could enjoy a cheap and effective education with no technology. Education began in prehistory, and if they could, without writing, effectively teach students by method of imitation, the poor education in certain areas cannot be blamed on a lack of modern technology.
As mentioned earlier, staff have a huge influence on students and their progress. In the classroom, teachers have total control; the students must do whatever work the teacher sets them, they are taught by the teacher’s methods, and are punished as the teacher sees fit. Teachers can make the life of any student miserable, simply out of dislike, and make the student dread going to a specific class or even to school altogether. The staff must be able to reflect critically on their own methods, constantly look for alternative ways of teaching rather than punishments, and understand the levels and differences of all the pupils.
Motivation is possibly the most important quality to possess in order to succeed, not just at learning but at everything in life. Without motivation, not only is the student unlikely to enjoy, learn and progress in their work, they’re unlikely to even want to start. It is crucial for the student’s development for him/her to have some form of motivation, e.g. competition between classmates or a friendly teacher.
Despite what one might think, the environment in which children are educated has a surprisingly big influence on how well the children learn. Aside from obvious obstacles such as if the child is being bullied by classmates, there are less obvious factors such as the school building and classrooms, acoustics, and lighting. A poorly maintained school building has a detrimental effect on the students’ morale and achievement. The lighting of the room is also one of the most important environmental elements in learning; one study found that students with the most exposure to natural daylight progressed 20% faster in math and 26% faster in reading than students who were taught in environments with the least amount of natural light.
The previous points have been made about education in a school. However, there is no reason to say the same cannot be said about any place, as long as there is enough room, shelter, and space to exercise during a break from work. Every year, approximately 3% of students choose to be homeschooled, but there are also those who don’t have a choice. Juvenile delinquents are not allowed to go to a normal school. In fact, it is not only children who can benefit from an education in prison; in the United States, there are 2.3 million people incarcerated, 41% of which do not hold a high school diploma. Experts believe that a quality education is the key to a reformed life for these people.
In conclusion, a quality education is a human right and a public good. Quality education does not have to be expensive, or require modern technology. After all, as lawyer Christine Gregoire put it, “education is the foundation upon which we build our future”. Every person deserves a future, and we who are lucky enough to count ourselves well educated should take it upon ourselves to make this happen.
David Blake, Year 12, Global Campus Creative Writing Competition