What would the majority of all of us say if our parents gave us $1.50 to purchase our own clothing, food, and other human necessities to live? We’d denounce our parents behind their backs, complaining and groaning to our friends about how unethical our parents are.
However, have we ever stopped to wonder what $1.50 means to the rest of the world? We are in the lucky 20% of the rest of humanity. The 20% of us account for more than ¾ of income around the world. 80% of the world lives on less than $10 (10000 Won) a day. And while we complain about not receiving the new Macbook, or iPhone, 22,000 children with an family income of less than $5 die each day. With over one billion people entering the 21st century unable to read or write, for these children, education is a dream that they yearn for every day. The significance of education is undeniable as it makes us self dependent, it increases the economic growth of a nation, and offers all of us equal opportunities for our future in terms of gaining a stable and happy life. Predictably, there is a direct correlation in the economic stability and survivability rate of a person who has been educated and a person who has not received adequate education. |
BY JOONYOUNG LEE
EDITED BY YEJUNE PARK DESIGN BY SEAN JS LEE Adequate education enables those born into poverty, to rise in society. It has become apparent that within our society, the impossible is for the poor to receive adequate education. With little income, the most parents can do for their children is send them to low funded schools. Unsurprisingly, elite teachers gravitate more towards the schools of prestigious reputation and high funding. Our society tends to mistreat those who are not as educated as others. However, with most of the prestigious education leaned towards those who have wealth and riches, the power that education can offer to those in poverty diminishes. And with this approach to education in our society, it is highly unlikely that there will ever be a difference.
Even basic education for these children will reduce poverty, offer a stable life, and allow them in adulthood to care and manage well for their children. Their children have a 55% higher chance to survive through infant-hood. As said by Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” |