Lack of Education Causes Poverty

Lack of education causes poverty by limiting employment opportunities, giving consistently low or no income, increasing health issues and leaving very little financial aid for the rescue. Parents must realise the importance of education for students and encourage them to achieve higher education. Various reasons such as infrastructure limitations, financial bounds, and gender inequality, are the primary reasons for lack of education which in turn causes poverty. Let us learn more about how lack of education causes poverty.

Importance of education from childhood

Education is essential since early childhood as it boosts social interaction and teaches students to interact and communicate their thoughts with others. Children are often admitted to school at a young age to attend kindergarten. Early years of growth are the foundational stage for every child, where they learn and form beliefs that impact them throughout their lifetime. Parents are known as the primary educators of every child as they teach their child about their culture, religion, values and beliefs. Schools help carve and build a systematic structure for every student’s moral, social, and educational growth. While Indian families in urban areas understand the importance of education, many rural families keep students, especially girls, away from schools. They must realise the purpose of education and its importance in the initial years of child growth.

• Children who receive education from an early age learn to act disciplined, be socially interactive, and be respectful.

• Schools help in polishing a student’s communication skills and help build self-confidence.

• Early education helps foster a sense of curiosity among students and drives them to acquire new knowledge and skills.

• Students learn more about hygiene and healthy habits that boost their physical development in their growing years.

• Educated students are likely to differentiate between right and wrong and avoid stereotypes, biases and prejudices.

• Education is essential as it imparts good values and morals, helps students develop empathy and respect towards each other, and builds cultural tolerance.

• Education also guarantees that the child will be able to build a stable career and keep their family away from the clutches of poverty.

Causes of lack of education

Students in both rural and urban areas are subjected to a lack of education. They are either completely uneducated or asked to drop out of school for various reasons. Let us learn more about the reasons for the lack of education.

1. Inadequate infrastructure– Parents generally consider sending their children to government schools in rural areas. Due to a shortage of classrooms, books, learning materials, mid-day meals, improper sanitation facilities and other amenities, parents refrain from admitting their children to schools. The importance of school infrastructure works towards offering a welcoming and progressive environment for students to study with total concentration.

2. Lack of qualified teachers– One of the primary factors while choosing the right school for students is the presence of qualified and experienced teachers. If the students fear the teacher due to their unfair or biased class behaviour, they look for reasons to stop attending school. It is essential to create a welcoming environment for students at schools.

3. Gender inequality– In many parts of India, gender stereotypes are still prevalent, and girls are the victims of this social evil. Parents often prevent girls from attending schools as they are to be married off to some other family. So, instead of spending money on educating girls, they teach them how to cook and do household chores while boys are sent to schools for higher education. Gender inequality limits girls from getting an education.

4. Limited schools– It is pretty standard in rural areas that there is a shortage of schools, and students have to travel long distances to reach their nearest schools. It is a significant obstacle preventing students from attending their classes consistently and on time.

5. Poverty– One of the primary reasons for lack of education is financial barriers. Parents struggling with finances struggle to provide basic amenities for their families. Under such circumstances, parents often avoid admitting their students to schools as it requires financial investment. Instead, they send their children into the clutches of child labour to get more money to sustain the family.

Reason why lack of education causes poverty

Lack of education paves the path for poverty. Let us see how a lack of education causes poverty.

1. Limits employment opportunities– The employment opportunities in India are growing by the day. Students also plan their careers abroad and polish their skills. Lack of education means a lack of skills, leaving only a place for low-paying jobs. Without the necessary skills and qualifications, job opportunities become limited, and it becomes challenging to seek jobs with high wages or job security, which leads to generational poverty.

2. Low income– Since low qualifications and skills lead to lower income, individuals are likely to earn consistently low wages. In such cases, people struggle to afford daily amenities such as food, shelter and healthcare. Enrolling the further generations in a good boarding school becomes difficult.

3. Dependence on social programs– Lack of education also leaves individuals unemployed, forcing them to rely on government schemes and programmes to get ration and shelter. They earn very little or no income and depend entirely on luck to survive. This ensures a consistent cycle of poverty, which is difficult to break.

4. Health issues– Education helps promote a better lifestyle and maintain healthy habits. Lack of education leads to poor health literacy and family planning. Families end up procreating and having a more prominent family than they can feed. Bad health keeps them sick and prevents them from even getting jobs as a labourer or worker.

5. Limited financial resources– An unstable income due to a lack of education also limits financial resources such as getting loans or credit cards. This makes it very difficult to invest for further generations to lift them out of the clutches of poverty.

What role does education play in breaking the poverty cycle?

Education plays a significant role in promoting economic wealth and keeping individuals away from poverty.

1. Increased employment opportunities– Educated students have endless opportunities for employment both in their country and abroad. Education equips students with the skills, qualifications, talent, and knowledge to achieve better employment opportunities. Students who receive education from the early stage take help from school counsellors for career planning. Such students are more likely to upskill themselves and secure higher-paying jobs. A stable and good source of income keeps students away from poverty. Even in rural homes with low financial conditions, educated students rise to secure better jobs and pull their families out of poverty.

2. Women empowerment– Inequality in education is a social evil that promotes poverty in a family for years. Parents must realise the importance of girl child education and promote girls education. An educated woman helps in better family planning, ensuring her family’s health, and breaking the existing gender stereotypes in society. Girl child education is necessary to secure high-paying jobs and contribute to the family’s finances.

3. Improving health– Educated students are aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and have routine checkups to keep their health better. They can afford good medical care whenever needed and have access to top hospitals and doctors. A healthy person is more likely to stay productive at work and grow financially, thus reducing the chances of moving towards poverty.

4. Economic promotions– Students continue studying after securing jobs but continue to upskill themselves by achieving relevant degrees or attending workshops and seminars. Greater productivity and skills lead to securing better and high-paying jobs in the future. Some students also become entrepreneurs after getting experience in their required industries. 

Lack of education causes poverty as it limits job opportunities and sources of high-paying jobs and leads to more health issues that cause more expenses than earnings.

SKV is a female boarding school in India that offers progressive learning to girls above class VI. Affiliated with the CBSE board, we provide world-class education to transform students into independent and learned individuals.