Education and Developing Countries

by guest blogger-Sumesh Shiwakoty

“The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living differ from the dead”: Aristotle. Considered as, one of the most essential factor today is Education, commonly considered as backbone for development personally and professionally. But, comes the question about its quality. In most developing countries, people are facing problems caused by lack of quality of education. Reasons differ in various ways poverty, socio-economic condition, geographical condition, unemployment, lack of Insurance, lack of governmental action and many more resulting in lack of development.

Developing countries are generally considered as those having low per capita income, low literacy rate and low Human Development Index [HDI]. In comaprison to the condition decade ago things have improved a lot, many children are enrolled into school but the bitter reality is qualty and enrollment doesn’t even gurantee the mastery of basic skills. The common problem seen today is low socio-economic condition and lack of government concern on building block of nation. Governemnt policy makers have failed miserably, government institutions with low tuition fee are unable to sustain and have quality manpower even when loads of grants and funds are poured into the system to make the education system affordable and reachable but it is turned out as a jar to earn money without effort for those involved. The learning experience in these location, comes under miserable condition. Instituition that sale themself by giving guarantee of quality education are expensive private institutions, they are not able to fulfill their word. They are distributing  education- in a well maintained building with maintained discipline but lack practical knowledge . Results, bunch of certificate holders without skill.

Low socio-economic condition can also be seen as a reason. Various researches shows that students from low socio-economic conditioned society learn more slowly compared to children from higher levels. Initial learning of children is directly related to the literacy condition of the family, facility they are provided with . Childrens lack proper material as books and materials which helps them to learn in better way. School they are sent to have unqualified teachers who lack training or knowledge on teaching behaviour to kids, unmaintained teaching-learning environment and migration of if available qualified tutors is seen as reason for the decreasing quality of education. Students with desire to study are diverted to uplift their socio-economic condition which put them to choose job over education if given an option which also hampers their development with education being second option without second thought.

Another persisting problem of developing nation due to lack of good education system that meet international standard in own land has been brain drain. Students start to look for quality education but abroad studies comes as their only option. Student going abroad start  to work in foriegn land to overcome their fees and later on after completimg their education, find a job there and their homeland is deprived of their skills. As a whole developing country suffer with the hindrace of brain drain, not only fault of student but failure of system as a whole that fails to provide quality educaion upfront or have enough opportuntiy to return home and use there knowledge; apart that those qualified individual or group have not contributed enough or tried to uplift those condition they went through. Blame game and waiting on others to act and ride on top of it is always there but also comes question is it worth for them to take the risk?   

The above discussed are very few problems and it’s solutions are ofcourse available. First of all, all the students and parents in the society must be made aware about the quality and quantity of education they’re taking. They should be made clear about importance and their rights to education such that they can learn more effectively and develop skills according to their capacity.  Whereas from the international level, low socio-economic condition can be taken as a main problem and and can be included in the plans of various programs. They can help to uplift the conditions of society by providing skills and encouraging students to work in their own land. Once, the social condition is improved, education becomes the major concern.

There have been enough concern from the government but with no real implementation now the action is must. Keeping it as the major concern, qualitative education at affordable price must be provided to the society. Getting degress and certificates doesn’t only mean edcuation. It means having regular updates and informations about the field the student have joined. Not only this, but students themselves must be willing to learn something and use it in the upliftment of the country. As W.B Yeats says, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” , the concern of each and every individual is essential to peek through positive change in upcoming future.

Notes

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