High quality education is taken for granted in the
West. We expect to be able to send our children to a nearby school. We
expect the education that they receive will meet a certain standard laid
down and enforced by our respective governments.
In most parts of the developing world education is
not free. Going to school is privilege that is reserved for only those who
can afford it. Families have to pay for housing and food before they can
think about sending their children to school. To send your children to
school, you have to pay for their school uniforms, school fees, books and
other materials.
Often, there are no local schools and the children
have to walk or cycle up to fifteen kilometres to find the nearest one.
There are frequently a shortage of teachers as many teachers do not live
locally and have to commute great distances to get to the schools. These
problem are magnified when the rainy season comes and the roads become
washed-out and impassable.
The schools themselves are poorly equipped. Most do
not have either electricity or running water, or working toilets. This makes
teaching good sanitation practices very difficult. Teaching materials are
very basic, most of the children write with chalk and slates. Very few
schools have computers, most do not have electricity, and those that do have
it, the supply is very unreliable.
* United Nation Millennium Development Goals Report 2007.
