Education lays the foundation for the growth and development of society. It acts as a catalyst to uplift the standards of living and helps build a better future. The role of education increases multifold in developing nations since it helps to eradicate poverty and slow economic development. It is also the solution to major social problems, namely a high population, inequality, discrimination, amongst other issues. Hence due emphasis must be given on educating the youth of the nation.
However, contrary to our vision of education in developing countries, its condition, especially in terms of dropout rate, is diabolical and requires an immediate and effective change.
Dropping out of school refers to discontinuing school before completion of high school education or equivalent credential such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. According to a UNESCO report (2000), about 130 million children in the developing world refused the right to education through dropping out.
Some other substantiating examples are the 40 percent rural dropout rate in China, 50% primary school dropout rate in Pakistan, and 80 million students dropping out without completing secondary education. In India. Moreover, UNICEF reported that the Asian subcontinent region is next to the Sub-Saharan African area in terms of dropout rates.
Reasons for High Dropout Rates in Developing Nations
The overhead cost of education, and forgoing the opportunity cost of sending children to work, make learning a financial burden for low-income families. Often, these children also starve, leading to poor health, which forces them to leave school. These people then succumb to the choice of dropping out of school and working for minimum wage. Further, the poor quality of education and the irrelevance of the curriculum in a socio-economic context is responsible for the lost interest of parents and the children in higher education. The long-distance between the institute and the houses along with the security of children, also poses problems. Teachers, who form the heart of education, are erroneous and often unqualified and indifferent.
Also, illiteracy steers illiteracy as illiterates often do not view education as necessary. They thus prefer that their children work in a low-skilled profession instead since it guarantees at least a low-standard of living. Social practices like early marriage prevalent in many developing countries also obstruct children from obtaining higher education. In many schools, children of different ages and capacities study in a joint classroom, without the adoption of appropriate teaching and learning methods. Thus this inadequate school environment, improper conduct of teachers, and financial problems do not allow children to pursue higher education and aim for a better future.
Need and Ways to Decrease High dropout Rates
According to Vision 2030, “Education is a crucial component of economic growth because it directly influences growth, employment opportunities, and adaptation to a fast-changing Global inclination.” Henceforth, a high dropout rate reduces literacy rate, growth rate, and pace of development. It leads to a lower tax-base and a higher need for government aid from even lesser tax revenue. It makes it difficult for developing countries to move from a primary or secondary economy to a tertiary economy. Disguised employment, seasonal employment, and unemployment are also consequences of lower graduation rates. More so, it adds to already existing social problems like a high population through incompetent family planning. Lastly, it promotes higher dropout rates and further elevates the problem of illiteracy and poverty.
It is thus imperative that governments take further initiatives to improve their education system.
The establishment of schools with necessary facilities and infrastructure that caters to the entire population, along with trained teachers, is a must. Also, it calls for the implementation of stricter laws for the abolishment of external factors that hinder child education like child labor, early marriage, and gender inequality. Moreover, many are unaware of the importance of education; thus, it is essential to carry out campaigns and community awareness seminars. Financial constraints of a family should not prevent a child from attending school. Free schooling, scholarships for needy students to encourage literacy among the poor, and study loans at a lower rate should be available.
Education goes beyond teaching written content, and thus a conducive environment that promotes learning and personal growth is essential for the development of all the developing nations.