Introduction
Countries throughout the world have challenges that deter their economic, social, and intellectual development. However, challenges are more predominant in low income countries than the high income and upper middle income countries.
While the wealthy countries suffer from social issues that pertain to morality and standards, their poor counterparts face several problems, which range from poor education and health facilities, famine, conflicts, among others. From statistics, it has been observed that low income, as well as some lower middle income countries experience extreme poverty, which is closely linked to education capacity.
In addition, poverty is predominant in low income countries where literacy levels are also below standard. Therefore, where poverty reigns, improvement in education is deterred.
This paper will explore education, global poverty, and development based on interpretation of Millennium Development Goals and the statistics in four different countries mentioned above. It will also endeavor to establish the relationship between poverty and education as well as their indicators (UNICEF, 2011).
Poverty and Education
Views on education, global poverty, and development based on interpretation of the Millennium Development Goals and the statistics in 4 different countries examined
Most countries in Sub Saharan Africa face extreme starvation whenever famine and drought come by. They include Kenya, Ivory Coast, and Chad, among others. Global poverty has continued to increase as social poverty overcome most low income states.
Moreover, Education levels in low income countries have necessitated creation of MDGs (Millennium Development goals) by the United Nations to help eradicate poverty and expand literacy levels as well as improve environmental awareness and conservation, among others. The countries examined are Kenya, Ivory Coast, Haiti, and Chad. Kenya has a gross national income (GNI) per capita of $ 780, with literacy levels of 87% as at 2005. Ivory coast on the other hand has a GNI of $ 1,070 with literacy levels of 55%.
In addition, Haiti also has a GNI of $ 650 with literacy levels of 49%, while Chad has a GNI of $ 600 with literacy levels of 34%.
From such indicators it can be seen that low income countries have lower literacy levels except in the case of Kenya, which seems to be trading in regions below its Standards given the level of education. Millennium development goals are therefore significant in enabling development of these countries (The World Bank Group, 2011, p. 1).
Relationship between poverty and education
As has been observed above, low income countries that experience extreme famine tend to have the lowest rates of education. This is mainly because these countries do not have adequate food basket, let alone facilities to offer quality education.
The connection between these indicators
The indicators reflect lower literacy rates in countries with low GNIs. However, there is contrast in Kenya’s case, even though most indications show close link between poverty and education.
Conclusion
Education is greatly affected by poverty as is witnessed in most low income and lower middle income countries. This is reflected in statistics given by the world bank as at 2010. Countries that are mainly in Sub Saharan Africa face extreme starvation whenever they come across famine and drought.
These include Kenya, Ivory Coast, and Chad, among others. Global poverty has continued to increase as social poverty overcome most low income states.
Moreover, Education levels in low income countries have necessitated creation of MDGs (Millennium Development goals) by the United Nations to help eradicate poverty and expand literacy levels as well as improve environmental awareness and conservation, among others. In essence, low income countries that experience extreme famine tend to have the lowest rates of education (The World Bank Group, 2011, p. 1).
Reference List
The World Bank Group. (2011) Data. worldbank.org. Web.
The World Bank Group. (2011) Education. worldbank.org. Web.
UNICEF. The State of the World’s Children 2011: Adolescence- An Age of Opportunity. Unicef.org. Web.