The Education We Take for Granted

Everyday, children in Niger walk into their classes two or more hours late after their laborious obligation to secure water for their families (Nositter). They trek these long and hot trails in an attempt to finish their chore so that they can make it to class on time and get the same equal opportunity of education as everyone else. This is the result of how insignificant education for children in Niger has become. One boy, Sani spoke of his wish to be in school and stated how, “The others are more advanced than me, but I have to get the water,” (Nositter). However, children losing time for education because of their burden of water is only a part of the problem. The current educational status of Niger is dire, with adult literacy at 14 percent and the amount of children enrolled in school at an overall 24 percent (Hodd).

  The poverty and famine in Niger is also one of the main leading causes for poor education in terms of multiple aspects. One aspect includes how children who suffer from malnourishment are often affected in the long run, their brains are not fully developed and their health affects their growth, which often results in lower IQs. One article in The Economist proves this point by explaining, “Malnourishment stunts brains as well as bodies. If severe in the first few years of life (or in the womb), the effects can be irreversible. By one estimate, better nutrition would raise average IQs in poor countries by 10-15 points” (The Economist). Yet another major issue that leads to the increase in poor education can be seen through the different levels of poor in Niger. Evidently, Niger is an extremely impoverished country as it is ranked 173 out of 174 in the Human Development Index (Hodd). And with the population of Niger there comes the many different levels of poor such as: the lower middle class poor, the rural poor and the urban poor. After taking these levels into consideration it is evident how the urban poor have more advantages than the rural and lower middle class people of Niger, some of these advantages include being able to afford better healthcare and, of course, the fees of a better educations for their children (Hodd).

  However, the government is not neglecting this major issue and is proceeding to make many changes. The officials of Niger have been very rigorous in identifying and taking into account many of the main problems that contribute to the poor education sector in the country, and as a result, they plan on making some very extensive developments (Education in Niger). They plan on ensuring education as a top priority and have put together a long-term plan to help set them on the right track to success in the span of the next ten years. Some of the major reforms they plan on making include, “Improve the quality of basic education by introducing mother tongue instruction in early grades, bettering pedagogical supervision, and increasing the supply of teaching and learning materials” (Education in Niger). This process will reform many of the major issues such as creating a healthier and more interactive learning environment to enhance the quality of the education.

All in all, through the help of many organizations such as, UNICEF, the government of Niger is addressing this issue and is taking major steps into the development of education for children and adults alike who have missed out on this basic right to a proper education for all these years. It is really looking up for Niger and one day soon they will follow in the footsteps of many other developing countries who have advanced their education such as, Uganda and Angola (The Economist).

Work Cited : 

"Down with school fees; Education in poor countries." The Economist, 13 Dec. 2003, p. 44US. Global Issues in Context, Accessed 21 Mar. 2019

“Education in Niger.” Education in Niger | Global Partnership for Education, Global Partnership for Education , 2 Nov. 2018

Hodd, Jack. "Niger." Worldmark Encyclopedia of National Economies, edited by Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast, vol. 1: Africa, Gale, 2002, pp. 337-345. Global Issues in Context, Accessed 22 Mar. 2019

Nossiter, Adam. “Niger Children Miss School to Search for Water.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 21 May 2012