JSM - Edition Four

E ducation

Education to the age of 17 should be Mandatory (for everyone in the World) In today’s world, education is an essential factor in creating an improved future for all nations. It must be mandatory for everyone until the age of 17 to ensure for this to happen. According to the UNICEF Report on Human Rights, all children must have a free, compulsory education. It is a basic right along with food, water and shelter. If education was to be accessible to all and until the age of 17 (even in the most impoverished countries), it would maximise all children’s potential in higher education and employment opportunities, while teaching valuable life skills. With the power of knowledge the cycle of poverty can be broken. Education and poverty are closely linked, because people living below the poverty line are more likely to stop going to school to go to work. Without vital literacy and numeracy skills, their job opportunities and future prospects are limited. Sadly their children will be in the same situation. Approximately 3 billion people live in poverty and ACEI data shows in an under developed nation every additional year of education can increase their earning capacity by 10 percent. Furthermore education provides more than job opportunities, it improves standards of living and how to be healthy through many sanitation projects. This is vital for the improvement of developing nations. The trend will continue from parents to children and knowledge and skills will be passed down. In 2009 the Australian (NSW) Minister stated that now “research shows if any student reaches Year 12 or equivalent the employment opportunities are far greater. However, children should not be relied upon to make decisions about their own need for an education. It is not until they have completed their (at least until High School) schooling years that they will understand the importance. Unless the children are educated they will not know of the future possibility of going to a University or a better job opportunity. This is why all Governments need to enforce a fee-free and compulsory education until 17 years of age. More than learning to read and write, an education provides a safe environment to make mistakes and learn from them. Before entering the wide world everyone needs to be taught the importance of self-dependence, being socially acceptable and life skills. For example in an IB school you are taught the learner profiles; being principled, confident and resilient from a young age by puppets. If everyone until the age of 17 was given the opportunity to go to school and be taught right from wrong and moral values we would have a more kind and loving society. Once people understand the importance of an education until a child is 17, it will help us develop a safer, happier and more peaceful life for everybody. In order for the world to move forward we need to address the issue of lack of education. Knowledge gives children the goal of a better future and the confidence required for a fulfilling future for all generations.

A lice J ones Y ear 6G

JSM Edition Four

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