Educating teachers in underveloped countries

My name is Whitney Wyatt and I am an intern for the Global Text Project. I knew that poverty was linked to the lack of education around the world, but I did not realize this is problem could be prevented. It was not until I began my internship with Global Text that I realized the importance of what we are attempting to accomplish by providing free textbooks for university students.

The need for higher education is a single part in an interrelated cycle within the primary educational system of underdeveloped countries. The more college educated teachers there are in the these countries, the more knowledge can be shared with younger generations. Global Text is trying to help make higher education more accessible and make education for everyone a reality.

Education in underdeveloped countries

Harsh facts:

• 75 million children primary school age are not receiving any education.
• More than half of these children are women.
• More than 70 per cent of these children are in South Asia and Sub-Sahara Africa.
• Enrollment in a university in underdeveloped countries was less than 20 per cent, compared to the 67 per cent of developed countries.
  
• Around USD 167 is spent per child in these struggling countries.

These are very frightening statistics. It is hard for children to receive an education in underdeveloped countries. Those who have receive primary education may not finish their schooling because of more pressing concerns such as acquiring food and helping to support their family. Receiving education is an uncommon luxury and rarely a priority.

Teaching in underdeveloped countries
In underdeveloped counties, the ratio of students to teachers can be as extreme as 100 to 1. Classrooms and schools are full in countries like Ghana, but their resources are sparse. One textbook may need to be shared with 4 or 5 students, and the classrooms may be large, holding 70 or more students at one time. Forty-eight per cent of children in Africa do not have access to textbooks. Families in the Philippines earn an average of USD 1.53 a day; this barely provides an evening meal. The families usually eat rice and casaba roots throughout the year; this leaves them hungry and nutritionally deprived.

Because of such poor conditions, many people are reluctant to go into the teaching profession. Wages are extremely low for such a demanding job. The population of elementary school age children increases every year at an extreme rate. Unfortunately, the growth rate of educators is not as high.

The need for resources

Global Text is working to provide university students with the resources they need to help educate themselves and teach others. Spreading such knowledge is pivotal to promoting schooling and changing attitudes toward education in developing economies. Teachers working in undeveloped economies need the most help engaging their students and exposing them to the importance of learning. These teachers are attempting to change their country's perception of education student by student.

We can all contribute a small part by helping Global Text provide these admirable educators with resources they need. Contributing to the GTP library continuously will not only promote the ability for university students to access material, but it will also help teachers and educators globally because it be one more resource available that can help improve their own work. Through open education, there are countless ways to help fellow educators, we just need to make the choice to help.