The Solution...

The solution, though not the only, technology and the use of the internet for online learning in developing countries. A few simple computers and access to the internet and children will want to learn.  Barriers are not factors when it comes to learning.  Educational researcher, Ted speaker, and Ted Prize winner Sugata Mitra thinks self-organized learning will shape the future of education and says that "children can teach themselves and each other -- if they’re motivated by curiosity" (Mitra)

Sugata isn't the only one who believes this, the award-winning director of the documentary School in the Cloud says "...where children had never seen a computer, the lack of experience wasn’t a barrier. They quickly became confident to follow their interests, ranging from information about chemistry to online DJing" (2018)

Check out Sugata's TedTalk to see just how students teach each other and refuse to let any barrier get in their way of education.

By increasing the use of computers, internet and online learning in classrooms, libraries, internet cafes, etc. the cost of education for a student is reduced, the distance for traveling is minimized, the safety of girls traveling to school is increased. 

"Unicef found that 40% of Vietnamese children surveyed in rural areas used the internet for educational purposes, with 34% sending school-related text messages. In urban areas this spiked to 62% and 57% respectively." (Kelly, 2013)

There are some disadvantages to this idea, like the costs, maintenance, and teacher training.
"What we've learnt is that it isn't enough to simply provide the hardware, it's the quality the wrap-around services – the teacher training, maintenance of technology, reliability of power, which provides the long-term benefits and this is one of the learnings we've been taking forward." (Kelly, 2013).  While these things are definitely considerations when it comes to technology and internet in classrooms, I believe the pros far outway the cons.  Access to online learning tools like Khan Academy, a nonprofit that offers “a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.”, Granny Clouds - online learning taught by "grannies" from all around the world, open up a huge education database that never existed in geneations prior.  Education accessibility is only broading with tools like these.


References:
Johnson, J. (2015, February 19). 4 Ways Technology Is Making Education More Affordable and Available. Retrieved March 28, 2018, from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/243002

Kelly, A. (2013, June 17). Technology can empower children in developing countries - if it's done right. Retrieved March 28, 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/technology-empower-children-developing-countries

Mitra, S. (n.d.). Sugata Mitra. Retrieved March 28, 2018, from https://www.ted.com/speakers/sugata_mitra

School in the Cloud film to premiere at prestigious festival. (2018, March 16). Retrieved March 28, 2018, from http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2018/03/schoolinthecloudfilm/

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The problem....

I identified a problem rather quickly after having taken another course last year, it stuck with me.  There are so many children throughout the world that do not have basic access to education.  How is this possible? That was my first question, secondly, how are children not getting the same rights that my children are granted?  This issue has since become a sort of passion for me.

72 million children are without education and millions of adults are illiterate because of a lack of education.  That's a staggering number of children being denied their international human right.  You can read the whole list of international human rights of a child here on the Unicef website.

"The Convention on the Rights of the Child was the first instrument to incorporate the complete range of international human rights— including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights as well as aspects of humanitarian law." (Unicef, 2014)

"Article 28: (Right to education): All children have the right to a primary education, which should be free.
Wealthy countries should help poorer countries achieve this right.....Young people should be encouraged to reach the highest level of education of which they are capable" (Rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 2014)

Unfortunately, reasons education is not accessible to children in developing countries are numerous, the location of schools, cost of going to school, the population of the school district, cultural beliefs and family history, gender equality and more.

"Even where schools exist, economic, social and cultural factors – including gender, disability, AIDS, household poverty, ethnicity, minority status, orphanhood and child labour – often interlink to keep children out of school. (A Human Rights-Based Approach to EDUCATION FOR ALL, 2017)

References:

A Human Rights-Based Approach to EDUCATION FOR ALL [PDF]. (2007). New York: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. (2014, August 07). Retrieved March 24, 2018, from https://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30177.html

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