Mukhtar Ahmad Qureshi
Education is very much recognized to be a best weapon for fighting with poverty and for sustainable development in the economy. By providing knowledge, skills, and opportunities, it breaks cycles of poverty by enhancing life quality. In this process, education plays a big role in economic growth and social inclusion along with improvements in personal well being.
Economic empowerment
It will have a direct effect on economic empowerment for the individual who acquires the skills necessary for better paying jobs. With quality education, people would be more empowered with special skills and knowledge that can open up their avenues for increasing employment opportunities and thus add more income levels and stability to their lives. This way, people can take care of their families and spend money on the education of their children with better jobs and contribute to the economy, which in turn creates a ripple effect that rips poverty out of communities.
More so, education inspires entrepreneurship as individuals are better positioned to create the competencies to venture into business. As more people get educated, the more equipped they will be to find opportunities and business, and thus have knowledge of market demand as well as other complex requirements for the business world. Thus, in creating employment opportunities for them, more opportunities are created for other people, boosting economic development while poverty reduction takes place on a higher level.
Social mobility and decreasing inequality
Promoting social mobility is among the most important roles the education system fulfils in enabling one to achieve better opportunities to become poverty free. Different people in various societies cannot fulfill their goals of poverty since they are not able to achieve quality education because of a poor economic status; neither do they have it available to their children. It perpetuates poverty to one generation after another.
Education bridges the gap between different socio-economic groups because it opens equal opportunities for learning and skill development. It is easier for women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to overcome the barriers set against them in terms of their potential if they receive education. This, in turn, contributes to lessening social inequalities and to building a more inclusive society where everyone gets the opportunity to thrive.
Health and well-being
Improvement of health and wellbeing also depends significantly on education. For one, educated people are more aware of their health risks and how they can be reduced with better lifestyles. Educated people better understand why hygiene and nutrition are necessary to lead a healthier and longer life. This is of special importance in poor communities where poor living standards and general lack of medical care seem to amplify the issues affecting their health.
Education enables the individual to make appropriate family planning decisions, reducing birth rates and improved maternal and child health. The family can now invest resources in the education and welfare of each child, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty.
Empowerment of women and girls
Female and girl education has a particular strong impact on poverty alleviation. Educated girls would probably delay marriage, first time childbearing, employment, and contribution to the economy. Educated women tend to invest more in the health and education of their children, resulting In cycles of development to the benefit of the community.
Studies have shown that increased female education is directly linked with reduced poverty and greater economic growth. This is the outcome of the exploitation of half the population and tapping their potential due to improved gender equality in education. Education empowers women to fight for their cause, seek employment, and achieve financial independence. This is very crucial in poverty alleviation.
Enhancing governance and social cohesion
Strengthening governance and social cohesion contribute to poverty reduction through education. The higher the level of education in citizens, the greater is their chance of participating in democratic processes, fighting for rights, and demanding that governments do the right thing. This will then lead to better governance, reduced corruption, and implementation of policies that are in favour of economic development and social welfare.
Education also allows a society to learn and coexist peacefully with others’ cultures and backgrounds. Additionally, an educated mind, regarding survival methods, would not involve much crime or violence and would finally lead to a peaceful society. Thus, with such an environment, economic growth will flourish along with less levels of poverty.
Challenges and solutions
Education fights poverty, but the challenge today is that quality education must be made accessible to all. In most developing countries, there is a lack of enough funds, inadequate infrastructure, and sociocultural barriers, which deny children, particularly girls, the opportunity to go to school. What is more, the quality of education varies significantly. Many marginalized communities get very inferior education compared to the better-resourced groups.
These challenges can only be defeated if governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector come together to increase investment in education through the building and upgrading of schools, training teachers, provision of scholarships, and in creating and inclusive learning environment wherein all students, especially the disadvantaged, are considered. Polities that will help address the root causes of educational disparities, whether it’s poverty, discrimination, or gender inequality, are also important in bringing education to all people. It not only empowers the individual but also stimulates them to develop their own lives and stimulates economic growth, social inclusion, and better governance. If education is properly invested in and available to people, then the vicious cycle of poverty breaks up, and it will eventually make a much better, prosperous future for all people within it. Hence, the governments have to centralize education within their plans for removing poverty and gaining sustainable goals in the realms of development.
(The author hails from Boniyar, Baramulla and can be reached at [email protected])
