Thursday, May 25, 2017

The Importance Of Building Schools In Africa Slums

By Diane Schmidt


Poverty is a scar in the conscience of society especially when it reaches a point where children cannot learn because there is no school. Poverty is everywhere even in developed countries. However, it is a major problem in Africa, Asia and South America. These are the places that suffer the brunt of poverty. The African continent in particular needs help in the area of building schools in Africa slums. The informal settlements of this continent have been neglected by the government and the private sector. There is a very high level of disenfranchisement in the developing world.

The importance of a school must never be underestimated at any moment in time. It may be the only thing that is needed to totally end poverty in a particular slum. A school can even be more important than a hospital because ignorance and lack of education are the worst diseases in the modern day world. Education is the only cure for ignorance.

The West has more than its fair share of schools because the relevant authorities are doing their job. That is not the case in underdeveloped countries. In such nations, there are areas of the country that have been neglected by the authorities because of being informal settlements. Such areas need much needed intervention from non-governmental organizations and other private poverty eradication institutions.

Corruption is hurting society and it is hurting the most vulnerable: the children. It is sad when the money for building a school is misappropriated. It is even sadder when a school cannot have much needed facilities that will facilitate a good learning environment. The future looks bleak if the children do not get the opportunity to learn properly.

If the relevant authority cannot build a school where children can learn, that should not lead to hopelessness. Private entities can as well take initiative. Things are always good, when people take initiative in their own hands. Waiting for the government, all the time, is usually not the right way of thinking. People can mobilize resources to help the poor.

Education is one of the ways that can make people to get out of slums. Therefore, if children are not able to learn, they will not be able to conquer the problems that they are currently facing. They will continue wallowing in poverty and that will be a big problem in the world. With the spread of poverty, crimes and other undesirable matters usually increase.

The African continent is beset with educational challenges. First, in some areas, there is no place for learning. Secondly, even if there is a school, some people cannot afford to pay school fees. Thirdly, children can be too hungry to go to school. Thus, building a school is not enough. There is also the need for free primary and secondary education.

Learning is not a preserve of a few. It is a right of every human being. Humans need an education just as they need water, clothing and shelter. This is something that needs to be emphasized in Africa and other parts of the world. The betterment of society starts with people being empowered by education. A school must never be a rare sighting but something that is very common in a locality.




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