Primary Education is generally defined as kindergarten through sixth grade. Primary education is something that many people across the globe take for granted every day. It may not seem to many to be a massive privilege, but to someone in a lower resource country primary education is usually an entirely foreign concept. About 57 million primary school age children do not attend any type of school in lower resource countries (Max, 2017). Without primary school these children are put at an immediate disadvantage for the entirety of their life as they will not attain the ability to read or write. This deficit often carries over to the next generation of children creating a dangerous pattern. The importance of educating in lower resource developing countries cannot be overstated.
Volunteer teachers in Malawi hope to educate their children
Education may be what finally allows a family to come out of a cycle of sickness and poverty. When families and children learn about the importance of different farming techniques and healthy crops they see the nutritional values of food and how greatly that effects them. It may also expose a mother to what foods are most beneficial during pregnancy or for babies growth. Education and the literacy that follows allows community to read about the importance of contamination and clean water to avoid a myriad of diseases. A spirit of education and being educated also allows for trusted voices to convey possibly lifesaving information in regards to preventative action and the spread of disease. Education in every possible way leads to combatting the cycle of poverty and the cycle of sickness and disease that comes as a result of poverty.
Trained volunteers teach young adults and children about the importance of Vaccinations
The benefits of education can be exponential and seem to permeate every aspect of life, including the health of a nation. The lack of Universal Primary Education is improving but still has massive room for growth. There were 100 million not attending primary school in 2000 and 57 million not attending primary school in 2015 (2019). 57 million remains a daunting and saddening number, as each day that passes children and adults move farther and farther from educational opportunities. Even as attention is given to ensure and encourage achieving universal primary education more attention and resources must be given.
Works Cited:
Education data. (2019, October 2). Retrieved from https://www.globalpartnership.org/data-and- results/education-data.
Education in Malawi, Africa – General Information. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.rippleafrica.org/education-in-malawi-africa/general-education-in-malawi- africa.
Max. (2017, May 17). MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education. Retrieved from https://www.mdgmonitor.org/mdg-2-achieve-universal-primary-education/.
Poverty and Education. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.childfund.org/poverty-and education/.
The State of Global Health 