Inequalities keep on widening by the day between the rich and poor countries. Poverty is getting more entrenched in the poor countries, while the rich countries are improving their per capita income a year after year. According to the Oxfamapps report, last year, 82% of wealth created worldwide went to the richest 1%. The poverty prevalence is taking a toll on the children from poor countries. In fact, these children are the worse hit. They suffer badly from the poor educational system since their learning conditions are negatively impacted.
How exactly? Firstly, their access to top-class technologically-advanced tools will be hampered. The negatively impacted learning process can prevent the progress and success of these kids and prevent them from attaining similar academic, psychological, mental and social heights unlike their counterparts from rich societies. Reducing the widening gap between children from the rich and poor societies is a task for everyone, be it governments, corporate societies or individuals.
What can the governments and individuals do to reduce this widening gap between the rich and the poor? This article presents a small insight and possible solutions to these issues.
Education
“Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself” that is according to John Dewey. Developing a passion for learning puts one on a path to a never-ending growth. Yes, the root of education may be bitter, but its fruit is always sweet. Also, there is no better key to unlocking the door of freedom than education. It is only education that can liberate one from the shackles and bondage of ignorance and poverty. Educating children from a poor background is, therefore, one of the best ways to reduce the gap of success between children from rich and poor societies.
However, many of these countries are too impoverished to spare the fund for education, this is where free education should be considered. Offering free education to kids from a poor background will greatly reduce the differences in chances at the beginning of life and entering into adult life. However, the free education must be of good quality. Educating the minds of children will help to release their potential and place them on the right path for success. Giving them the right tools to manage their own lives is the minimum we should do.
Condition of learning
But free education itself is not enough. The quality of teaching, mentioned above, is equally important. In fact, the children from the poor societies should be exposed to at least comparable standard of education as the children from the rich societies. If possible, they should be taught by tutors who have received the same standard of education, orientation, and general knowledge as their counterparts in rich countries. This way, we can highly increase chances for success of education process and other aspects of life among children from poor societies. The learning environment is also very important. The kids should be housed in classrooms and environments as similar as possible to what obtains pupils in rich societies. Conducive learning environment contributes a lot to the assimilation of children.
Access to learning aids
Good teachers are crucial, same as a conducive learning environment. However, these are not the only things required by the kids for effective learning and decent chances for success in life. Every child should also be given access to good learning aids. Proper learning aids make the learning process effortless. They improve the skills of the children in reading, time management, studying, thinking and memorizing, questioning, communications, basic writings and even reflection. They also reinforce a better understanding of several learning concepts. Books, notebooks, crayons, pens, rulers and other items needed at school are an absolute basis. Some great family friendly book series are available through Living Tree Press, Great Railroad Series and Homestead Friends.
Internet access
One other crucial factor that can significantly help reduce the success gap among children from poor and rich societies is the unrestricted access to the internet. It is a hub of information and one of the best places to acquire knowledge. Its applications are practically unlimited. It gives access to all sort of news from the world, scientific research and many other possibilities. Having access to the internet, a teacher can for example, print educational coloring books presenting the letters of the alphabet, show pictures of exotic animals of play interesting movie on YouTube. Free access to the internet reduces differences between people and places everyone on the same scale, since everyone can access the same information at the same time. However, concerned government agencies and individuals should make internet access available to children from poor societies free of charge. Free internet access will remove many forms of obstructions on their path to learning.
Conclusion
There it is, the various strategies that can reduce the widening success gap between children from rich and poor societies. The seriousness of the government and concerned individuals can go a long way in determining the success of the strategies mentioned above. Education is the key to personal development and freedom. And every man deserves it, no matter where in the world he was born.