Basic Education

Education should not be a Luxury

School education creates opportunities: Children who go to school have a better chance of getting a job, are more aware of health risks and can make meaningful decisions about their own lives. But many families in the countries of the South live in extreme poverty. That’s why children also have to work to earn a living for the family. The result is that more than 100 million children across the world do not go to school. In its project work and as a member of The International Campaign for Education Kindernothilfe campaigns to ensure that education does not remain a luxury.

No money for school fees
Attending school is an expensive luxury in many countries of the South – even state-run schools are not always free. The better equipped private schools are beyond the means of most families. Many simply do not have the money for school books, exercise books or uniforms.

Schools are badly equipped
Poor states do not have enough money for high quality schools and education centres. Many countries can hardly even pay the salaries of the teachers. Tight state budgets also lead to lower quality teacher training. The difficult economic situation makes it impossible for governments to maintain the schools in good condition, to modernise them or to build new schools. Many children live far away from the nearest school with no way of being able to make the journey every day.

A long way to go before 2015
The consequences: In 2005 about seventy-four percent of all children of school age across the world actually attended school – in the very poor countries this was sixty percent. Sixty-five percent of children gained access to secondary schools. In the very poor countries this figure was thirty percent. Girls are particularly deprived in this respect. 65 million girls do not go to school. The target of the global community as set out in the Millennium Development goals is that in 2015 every child should at least receive a full primary education.

What action is Kindernothilfe taking?
Kindernothilfe is committed to education and vocational training in its partner countries. It pays for school fees, writing and reading material as well as uniforms. Where necessary, it provides accommodation, meals, childcare and medical care. Investment programmes are aimed at helping to equip education centres and to build new schools. Because, with basic education and vocational training, young people are in a position to take control of their lives, support their families and contribute to the development of their country and their community.

As a member of the alliance “International Campaign for Education” Kindernothilfe strives to draw public attention to the disastrous effects the lack of school education has on developing countries. It mobilises the public to put pressure on governments and the international community to keep their promise of guaranteeing free and high quality basic education for everybody.