Why childhood education?

Childhood education is crucial in breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting sustainable development. According to UNESCO, every additional year of schooling for a child increases their future earning potential by an average of 10%, contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction. Education also has a positive impact on health outcomes, with educated individuals being more likely to adopt healthy behaviors and access medical care. Additionally, education is a fundamental right and is essential in promoting gender equality and empowering marginalized communities.

Studies have also shown that educated girls are less likely to marry early, have fewer children, and are more likely to participate in the labor force, contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction. Educated girls also have a better understanding of their rights and are more likely to participate in civic and political activities, promoting social justice and gender equality. Overall, childhood education is critical to promoting sustainable development, reducing poverty, and building a brighter future for all.

The Challenges

Education is a universal human right, but unfortunately, only some children in Sub-Saharan Africa can enjoy this right. Many families, especially those in rural areas, cannot afford to send their children to school. Additionally, armed conflicts in some countries make it even more difficult for children to attend school. In Sub-Saharan Africa, girls' education is a significant problem as over 8 million girls between the ages of 5 and 10 will never participate in school, compared to 7 million boys. By the time they reach adolescence, girls have a 40% exclusion rate compared to 30% for boys. This highlights the need for more investment in education to ensure that every child, regardless of gender or financial situation, can get a quality education and reach their full potential.

Unfortunately, many students in Sub-Saharan Africa need access to quality education due to a lack of critical resources and poor-quality teaching. The classroom environment is often chaotic, and students are bored and off-task, while the teachers must be prepared. In many rural areas, primary and elementary school teachers have only a high school diploma and no exposure to best practices in literacy instruction and child development. Once in the classroom, they receive very little support and are isolated, making it challenging to provide the structured learning environment their students need most.

Another significant problem in education in Sub-Saharan Africa is the need for more books. Many students and teachers in rural areas face bookless classrooms daily, with students forced to make do with scraps of newspapers or single copies of outdated textbooks to provide some reading materials. This makes it difficult for students to read independently and explore their interests, hindering their ability to learn and develop. PHS and change agents are investing in education to provide more opportunities for students to learn, especially in rural areas. By providing quality teaching and ensuring students have access to books and other necessary resources, every child in Sub-Saharan Africa can get a quality education and have a chance to reach their full potential.

Our Approach

At Petronille Healthy Society, we believe every child has the right to a quality education. That is why we partner with local schools and change agents to address the challenges that prevent children in sub-Saharan Africa from accessing quality education. Our approach is based on investing in local communities and empowering them to develop and implement solutions to improve education outcomes.

We address the two major problems facing primary schools in most sub-Saharan African rural areas: poor quality teaching and classrooms without books.

• To address the issue of poor-quality teaching, we provide professional development opportunities and resources for teachers to improve their instructional practices and student engagement. We also work to increase the number of qualified teachers to teach in primary schools.
• To address the issue of classrooms without books, we provide students and teachers with access to a wide range of reading materials, including books, e-books, and other educational resources. Access to reading materials is critical to improving literacy rates and educational outcomes.

Through our efforts, we are working to improve the quality of education in sub-Saharan Africa and ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.