For this weeks assignment I went back to articles on the World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education that was held in Moscow. While reading through the articles there were a couple of items that caught my attention. The first was the cost of good quality childcare is estimated at $7,600 to $22, 000 a year for one child (UNESCO, 2011). For many families that is their entire paycheck for the year
The second issue that I found not only interesting but also appalling was on the Roma, an ethnic minority group in Europe. More than 50% of Roma children fail to complete primary education in Europe (UNESCO, 2011). Roma have the largest risk in Europe of being poor, uneducated and unemployed. Reading this prompted me to do some investigation on the Roma people. I was able to find out through Amnesty International, that often the Roma people are denied more than just education but housing, citizenship in some countries, healthcare, and employment. They are subjected to violence and horrible discrimination. Roma children are often placed in “special schools” the schools that house the children with mental disabilities. In some communities the special schools population is 99% Roma children.
The third issue was a statement that I found to be extremely true. The denial of education nurtures social tensions was a statement that made me think (UNESCO, 2011). If all people were allowed access to the same education would the world be a less violent place? Social tension is caused by many reasons but the tension between the “haves and have-nots” is noticeable. Those who can afford the best of education starting from birth on do much better in school and some get better jobs because of their education. This is not something new. Families that are fighting just to keep a roof over their head and food on the table are not able to afford the highest quality of school. But if high quality education was available to everyone regardless of income then maybe we could close the achievement gap, lower tension and stress, and find world peace (just hopeful).
Reference:
Amnesty International. Europe’s Roma Community Still Facing Massive Discrimination. Retrieved August 12, 2011, from http://www.amnesty.org
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Education-Early Childhood Care and Education. Retrieved August 11, 2011, from http://www.unesco.org
How though provoking is the concept of equal access? The key to eliminating racism and discrimination is education. But yet current systems perpetuate the differences as there is not equality in education. Even in the United States where every child is entitled to an education, the quality of the education varies based on socioecomonic status.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this reality as we advocate for equality.
Meredith
Wow, Leslie! It is devastating to hear that the Roma people are discriminated against even in education. In the United States of America, we are so privileged to have access to a free, public education no matter who we are. From what I've learned from my contact in Mali and from what you've shared about the Roma people, it's easy to see that there are many inequities in education all around the world.
ReplyDeleteLeslie what an eye opener. As sad as the articles are that you shard, it is a reminder that women and children are fighting for the basic right to be educated in many parts of our world. You are spreading the word, that can only help. It makes me want to do more. Thank you
ReplyDelete