As poverty and disease claim more lives, education may be the cure
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA -- The number of children enrolled
in primary schools throughout African countries is among the
lowest in the world. Limited funds and a lack of resources --
combined with a lack of adequate numbers of teachers, properly
equipped classrooms, and not enough learning materials -- have
created an environment that has made educating young children
throughout many African countries a nearly impossible task.
“The pursuit of universal access to education places enormous
stress on already burdened education systems in Africa,” a recent
U.S. government report states. “Recruiting, training, and
supporting enough teachers to provide quality learning can be
particularly challenging.”
Girls in Africa have been particularly affected by the education
situation. In Africa, girls account for 55 percent of the
approximately 40 million primary school-aged children who are
not enrolled in school. “Most children don’t even start attending
school until they are around 7 to 10 years of age, and traditionally,
only boys have been routinely educated,” one observer noted.
“African culture and tradition has seen no reason to educate girls, just to have them marry and care for the home and children of their husband. This has been a serious obstacle to bring even just primary education to all the children.” But things are changing.
“The Missionaries of Africa have been implementing
educational programs and opportunities in many of our missions
for more than a century,” explains Fr. John Lynch, Director of
Development in the Society’s Washington, DC, office.
“Time and time again, we have seen how education has
changed one generation after another . . . in many cases enabling
people to become as self-sufficient as their environment allows.
That is what really changes the face of Africa!”
Education for Life!
Results showing life-saving value of education
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA -- In this region of Africa, it is
estimated that 40 million children are receiving no education at all
-- nearly half of all those of school age. It is predicted that this
figure could rise to 60 million by the year 2015, if enrollment
rates continue to fall. Because of the need for classrooms, teachers
and educational materials, funding is urgently needed. But finding
the necessary money will be difficult.
Since many African children have to work, they do not have the
time to attend school. As a result, it is predicted that many African
countries will need to double their spending on education and
more affluent countries will need to more than match that amount
in financial assistance to get every child into a classroom.
“With the number of orphans on the rise, those who are the‘bread-winners’ for many family units are children themselves,” explains Fr. John Lynch of the Missionaries of Africa.
“These boys and girls cannot go to school because they must work every day to find food for their siblings. It is a situation which many of us in the U.S. cannot understand or fathom, but it is a reality for the children of Africa.”
In one out of four African countries, a United Nations report states, half of the children enrolled in
the last year of primary school do not pursue their studies the following year. In another 25% of
countries, only one in three pupils at the end of primary school moves on to secondary education.
“If children receive financial help -- with money school fees, clothing, food, water, shelter -- basic
necessities,” Fr. Lynch explained, “then they return to school. They want education -- but what can
they do when they are hungry?”
Recent findings by the United Nations support this. In Madagascar, when school fees such as
tuition and book fees were removed, primary school enrollment
rates surged to 98 percent. Now, 89 percent of the nation’s
primary-aged children are enrolled in primary school. The number
of students completing primary school has climbed from 47
percent to 60 percent.
“With increased support from those of us living in more
developed nations such as the U.S. and European countries, we
could see a dramatic change in the future of Africa. Children there
are no different than anywhere else; they want education -- they
want to be together in an learning environment. But they also
need food, clothing and shelter. We can make a difference in the
lives of children on an entire continent -- for generations to come! We know what needs to be done.”
