Back to School

Every child has the right to learn.

Education is a fundamental human right. It’s also the key for accomplishing several sustainable development goals! A quality basic education equips children with the information and skills necessary to tackle the challenges of everyday life. It is also a crucial factor in reducing poverty, fostering economic growth, promoting gender equality, and fostering social development.

An estimated 22.8 million children aged 5-16 are out-of-school.

In many developing countries, children’s access to education is restricted by a variety of issues. Language barriers, gender roles, and reliance on child labour can all impede efforts to provide free and quality education. The world’s most vulnerable children from disadvantaged communities are more likely to miss out on school. This includes girls and children with special needs.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights makes it clear that every child has the right to free basic education, so poverty should not be a barrier to schooling.

Poverty is the most important factor in determining whether or not children can attend school. When families cannot afford to send their children to school, they are more likely to send boys than girls. Around 15 million girls will never get the chance to attend school, compared to 10 million boys.

Investing in girls’ education has a ripple effect on societies, economies, and cultures. Women who invested in their education had lower rates of early marriage and higher rates of living healthy and productive lives. They are able to provide better for their families and have a voice in the decisions that matter to them. It takes a child to raise a village, if you give them the chance.

Families living in poverty often have to choose between sending their children to school or providing for other basic needs. Even if families do not have to pay tuition fees, attending school comes with the added cost of uniforms, books, supplies, and exam fees.