The Effect of Hunger and Poverty On Education

The United Nations has identified universal primary education as a one of eight Millennium Development Goals(MGD). According to UNICEF, "educating children gives the next generation the tools to fight poverty and prevent disease".

Cycle: Poverty .... Hunger....No Education.... Poverty...

Providing universal primary education is easier said than done; especially in cases where a population faces food insecurity. What exactly does food insecurity mean? It means people do not have access to food. As a result people suffer from hunger, especially those in poverty who become trapped in a viscious cycle of hunger and poverty where one tends to lead to the other.

Children in particular are at higher risk of becoming trapped in the viscious cycle. According to UNICEF's Progress for Children-final report on the child-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), children make up nearly half of the people living in Poverty.

What is the connection between hunger and education?

Education is also part of the cycle because poverty and hunger often keep children from attending school. This affects their ability to gain the basic knowledge needed to get out of poverty and live healthier lives.

Children living in poverty have to endure hunger making it difficult to be productive due to the physical, physiological and emotional distress that it causes. According to UNICEF's Progress for Children 47% of people living in poverty are under 18, and as of 2012, 58 million children continue to be unable to attend primary school. This has especially affected rural children who conitnue to suffer malnutrion two times more than urban children.

Are the Numbers Going Down? While child hunger is still an ongoing issue, UNICEF's Progress for Children has reported a decrease in the number of primary school aged children out of school. Still, 58 million children continue to be out school.

Organizations such as World Vision are providing training and assistance to poor communitites to raise animals and crops allowing families to become self sufficient and provide for their children. In turn children are able to be educated and are less prone to exploitation and poverty in the future. It is important to donate to NGOs that have a good reputation that monitor and measure the effectiveness of their aid.

For more information visit: http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_82231.html