http://www.webster.edu/arts-and-sciences/affiliates-events/2015-conference.html
The article linked to above discusses the 2015 conference held to gage where the world was in achieving the UN Millennium Goals. One of the focuses of the article is universal education and points out that though this is the case in more countries since the goal was set, sub-saharan Africa still has a long way to go. Of course, the question becomes why progress is being made in some parts of the world and not in others. As stated in the article, "Many of the obstacles to education are things that Americans would never think of." These obstacles include malnourishment, geography, conflict, and infrastructure. In addition to the obstacles countries have for each goal to be achieved, many speakers also discussed the obstacles to data collection faced by the UN and individual countries. Many of the goals cannot be measured accurately due to societal/social reasons for data not being accurate.
Many of the Millennium Development Goals are intertwined. It is impossible to take one without the other. Too often people think education is the answer to poverty. The problem is that education in many countries means children are not able to work or take care of their siblings. This could end up being a financial hardship their families cannot afford in the short-term. Education should be universal and is a great long-term solution to poverty. However, it is hard for families who are living in survival mode to look at the long-term when they are working to survive the day-to-day life and the challenges it brings. As the article pointed out, many of the reasons that children are not being sent to school or why education is not working for many countries as a way to end poverty, are not even thought of in America or other developed nations. This points back to the problem with the Washington Consensus and other such plans being written and implemented by the developed countries with little to no understanding of or input from the countries being targeted to develop. Not every country has the same goal and certainly not every country is starting from the same place. In order for development goals of any kind to work, they need to be tailored to each country and what the people/government of that country want. This is idealistic, I know, but it is the only way such a plan will work.
Caroline,
ReplyDeleteWho do you think should be doing this analysis? Do you agree with what Sachs implies or do you think otherwise?
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ReplyDeleteI think that you are correct in the claim that how we educate people in countries should be on a case to case basis. But I think that education is extremely important to helping countries climb out of poverty. What would you suggest should be done to help the families in the short term, while also educating their children to help their futures?
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you that the goals developed countries have for under developed countries are guidelines that only developed countries go by. I think leaders of these under developed countries need to be involved to implement realistic guidelines that they feel they can achieve with the help of the U.S. for example. I also agree that yes it is idealistic but it is a goal I feel globally we can achieve.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely a good point to education being important for bringing a country out of poverty. Being properly educated gives one the tools to be knowledgeable of these current issues, to be resourceful and problem solving, and to be detail-oriented and find the right answer in such a difficult scenario. It helps tap talent and advocates innovation. But there are definitely other things countries must invest in as well (infrastructure, health care, etc.).
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely a good point to education being important for bringing a country out of poverty. Being properly educated gives one the tools to be knowledgeable of these current issues, to be resourceful and problem solving, and to be detail-oriented and find the right answer in such a difficult scenario. It helps tap talent and advocates innovation. But there are definitely other things countries must invest in as well (infrastructure, health care, etc.).
ReplyDelete