Unseen educational crisis: The culprit of dreams

By Maria Simonette O. Adiova

Contrary to popular opinion, poverty alone does not kill dreams in an instant, rather, it’s the constant, seemingly unseen inequality of educational support that has long been killing young dreams. As the maxim states, a seedling will not sprout without the right amount of water, nutrients, and sunlight. Its willingness alone will bear no fruits. Dreams alone cannot sustain the burning desire to graduate, a bitter fact that many are not ready to swallow.

Education is a fundamental basic human right that everyone should have equal access to. It’s a saddening fact how it swiftly becomes a privilege - those who have the means to afford it will earn it and those who cannot will not. Education being privileged undermines the former right. Inequality in educational settings frequently has connections to access and performance. No matter their social background, equality makes sure that all students have equal access to a high-quality education. Also, it guarantees that all students are held to the same standards and goals regardless of their backgrounds, skills, or experiences. Inequality, however, may result in a different distribution of the same.

The pandemic that momentarily made the world to an abrupt halt uncovered this problem. There is a major distraction to schools as the need to shift from a traditional mode of education to online and blended learning arises. Furthermore, this posed an unprecedented challenge of assurance that no students will be left behind amidst the changes. The gap in inequalities has become wider. Not all household has access to a decent internet connection, let alone electronic gadgets to use during online classes. The scarcity of educational resources especially among public schools was evident. Willingness may drive a student to try to keep up with the pace but without the means to do so, willingness becomes just a mere attribute, worthy of emulation but it’s just it, a mere ideal. No matter how capable a driver might seen, a car will not move forward without gas, and so in education.

Lack of support varies from financial, social, and material. It is evident that children from low social classes are mostly victims of the system. Education comes with a price. From school supplies to daily allowance, and tuition fees for private schools, education really is expensive. This proves that poverty is not innocent at all to be a culprit too in this educational crisis. Inherent links exist between poverty and education. Even though not all uneducated individuals live in extreme poverty, the majority of adults who are poor have only a minimal level of education. As a result of having to work, poor people stop going to school, leaving them without the literacy and numeracy skills needed to alter their situation. Due to their limited means and income, their children are also more likely to drop out of school, which contributes to an inter-generational cycle of poverty. Unfortunately, education has the greatest potential to end poverty, which has a tremendous impact on poverty. Furthermore, poverty creates a ripple effect of inequalities that aggravate the problem. But there comes hope for a child when support is given. Success stories of scholars from marginalized communities speak volumes about how educational support will come a long way. It gives a child hope and assurance that good education is attainable.

In an attempt to tie the loose end of this contemporary educational crisis, both government and private institutions play a crucial role in bridging the gap in education. The government must safeguard and advance every citizen’s right to a decent standard of education at every level, and it must also take the necessary measures to ensure that everyone can access to such. School fees for low-income parents are one of the many ways that the government might finance education. To make tuition more affordable for everyone, regardless of financial situation, school fees could be reduced in favor of needy parents and pupils. Giving up education for free could also benefit those in need and the less fortunate in the nation. Every person should consider education to be a universal factor or necessity. Due to the possibility of eliminating class levels, every student who comes from a low socioeconomic background will be able to attend education in the same way as any other student or person. Enough that, if every student in the country were vying for equal possibilities, deficiency in education might have been disregarded. To keep teachers motivated to provide their services, the government should make sure they are adequately compensated. The majority of teachers working for the government are underpaid yet they are also overworked. Underpayments cause teachers to lose motivation at work and may even cause them to give learners subpar services, which could lead to subpar performance. The panacea to eradicate inequality in education and strengthen educational support involves the continuous active participation of various concerned stakeholders. The primary step to solving a problem is to acknowledge its existence.

Literate citizens are assets of the nation. Higher literacy levels among students benefit the economy. To help people climb out of poverty and persistent underemployment, effective literacy skills open up more educational and employment possibilities. To engage and function happily in one’s community and make a contribution, one needs good literacy skills. To do just that, everyone must have equal access to quality education. For that to be possible, educational support must be present in every sector of the academe.

How freeing it would be if every child would have equal opportunities for education. A basic right is a right of all and those who are in the marginalized sector should not fight for it just to earn one. It should be freely accessible as it is a basic right equitable to basic needs. If one hopes for a better nation, one should put hope first for children. As they are, no matter how cliche it would seem is the hope of the future. Investing in them in the present would possibly change the poverty of the past. A dream with support is a dream halfway realized.