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Have you ever stopped to think about school? Besides the fact that you might think it’s boring, or that you get too much homework. But have you ever stopped to think about how valuable your education really is? Or how different your life would be if you didn't have access to school? Well, for lots of children and teenagers around the world, your thoughts are their reality. According to UNESCO, there are now 250 million children that do not attend school, and out of those 250 million, 58 million are primary school aged children. So picture this: what would life be like if you didn't know how to read or write?

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That's not really an easy question to answer. While you’re reading this, you can't really picture yourself in that situation simply because most people are lucky enough to not be in that position. However, for many children that don't have access to education, they have to resort to other ways to make money. According to UNICEF, child labour still affects almost 138 million children aged 5 to 17 years old around the world. Out of those children, 54 million work in hazardous environments. While numbers have declined significantly since the year 2000, it's still an issue! 

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Another problem that many families face is poverty, especially families that live in parts of Africa. According to World Population Review, South Sudan currently has the highest percentage of child labour, at 48%. And the country with the highest poverty rate is South Sudan (According to this data chart by World Population Review). So, how do these two data points relate to each other? Well, when people can’t earn enough money to provide for their families, their children have to help out too. This leads to children being in workplaces at a very young age instead of learning fundamental skills that are essential. In South Sudan, the literacy rate is among the lowest at around 34.52%. 

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Now, you might be thinking, “What does this have to do with me?” or "There's no way I can actually make a difference.” But all of this does affect you and your community and there are ways that you can make a difference. Education inequality has been a major global problem for years and when large numbers of people are uneducated, this contributes to the global economy. Another example is that when large groups of people lack access to quality education, it causes a cycle of poverty. Since you basically need a good education just to get a job nowadays, many children won't be able to get a job since instead they’re trying to help provide for their families. This causes them to be stuck in a “loop” of having to continue working in dangerous environments instead of getting an education just to be able to eat. 

 

Thankfully there are MANY organisations that are working towards a solution to this. Organizations such as Save The Children, Right To Play, and UNICEF are all great examples. By donating or just supporting them, YOU can make a difference too! You can also participate in peaceful protests and advocate for policy changes.

 

The next time you walk into your classroom, remember that your education truly is something valuable and shouldn’t be taken for granted. Millions of children dream of having that same opportunity. Each of us can play a role in making education more accessible for everyone.