Education in developing countries
How do developing countries manage education amid the most pressing daily challenges posed by economic pressures and threats to security, law and order?
Certainly, there are more serious problems to face, but it is important to point out that education is not forgotten. For many, it remains the best way to overcome hardship and poverty. As elusive as it is, it is still considered the key to a better life.
Among developing countries that are classified as “emerging markets”, it is not surprising to see educational institutions that are world-class and offer an education that can rival that provided by the wealthiest nations around the world. These include countries such as Mexico, India, Brazil, Turkey, the Philippines, Egypt, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, much of South America, and several of the Arab States of the Persian Gulf.
Unfortunately, although world-class education is readily available, it is still out of reach for a significant portion of the population in these countries.
At the lower end of the economic ladder, it is not surprising to see a low view of the importance of education, as parents tend to prioritize their children’s ability to earn money over the long-term benefits of schooling. But studies have shown that when poor families reach a certain economic threshold where their basic needs are met, their next priority is to get their children to school. Their next concern is usually where to get a decent education for their children, as many public schools have low educational standards, which is understandable considering that teachers are often paid much less than other professions. Similar. On the other hand, when they find a school they like, they have to move heaven and earth to get their children into that school due to low acceptance rates.
There are encouraging trends. For example, India has launched EDUSAT, an educational satellite that can reach a larger part of the country at a very low cost. There are also initiatives to develop a $100 laptop so that most students will have laptops by the end of 2006 or 2007 to give their children a digital education. Africa has also launched an “e-school programme” to provide all 600,000 primary and secondary schools with computer equipment, learning materials and Internet access within 10 years. Other countries have similar initiatives along these same lines.