Poverty and Education

Does improved household economic security lead to an improvement in school attendance and achievement? Does improved access to quality education have an impact on future economic security Can a causative relationship in both/either case be established?

“Everyone has the right to an education.” The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human RightsUnited Nations “Educational research has consistently found home background (socioeconomic status) to be an important determinant of educational outcomes, and economic research has shown that education strongly affects earnings.” (UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning IIEP 2008:10-11) “International literature finds no simple causal relationship between educational attainment and the economic growth of a country.” (UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning IIEP 2008:10-11)

“The impact of education on poverty reduction is most potent when education is combined with a broader economy strategy that includes macroeconomic stability, trade openness and incentives for foreign investment” (Aoki et al 2002, in World Bank; Sourcebooks for Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) 2006:234).

“While there are several reasons why children join armed forces and groups, poor living conditions are increasingly recognized as being at the heart of the problem. Children’s testimonies often refer to their enrolment as a strategy to ensure immediate survival and to earn a living.” (International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour. Good Practices on Child Labour: Africa, Congo 2010)

“Many Tanzanian writers (e.g. Leshabari and Masesa, 2000; Rajabu, 2000) identify the push for UPE as the major cause of the deterioration in quality at all levels of education in Tanzania. ‘UPE’, pronounced ‘oopay’, has become a colloquial term associated with low quality education rather than with universalisation. Some jest that the letters UPE stand for ‘Ualimu Pasipo Elimu’ (teaching without education).” (Wedgwood 2007:386) Wedgwood, R Education and poverty reduction in Tanzania. In: International Journal of Educational Development. Vol. 27, no. 4, pp Education and poverty reduction in Tanzania

Vietnam’s advantages Market size Attractiveness of a transitional economy Strong work ethos High levels of education Plentiful resources Geographical location flood of foreign capital into "the emerging market universe" In 1990 Southeast Asia attracted 36% of all FDI flows to developing countries Region exceeded China's FDI inflows by more than three times. August of 2010, Vietnam FDI over $11b so far; Tanzania 2010 est. $460m Hossein VaraminiHossein Varamini, & Anh Vu. Foreign direct investment in Vietnam and its impact on economic growth. International Journal of Business Research, Nov, 2007)Anh VuInternational Journal of Business ResearchNov, 2007

GNI per capital BrazilVietnamTanzania 19905, ,7002,6901,260 GNI Gross (billions) , GDP (billions) ,

Educational Goals 2000 Dakar No. 6 Improving all aspects of the quality of education and ensuring excellence of all so that recognized and measurable learning outcomes are achieved by all, especially in literacy, numeracy and essential life skills. Millennium Development Goals on Education Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education. Target 3. Ensure that by 2015 children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women. Target 4. Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and at all levels of education no later than 2015.

Economics & MDGs MDG 8a: Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system

G-20 London Summit, 2 April 2009; G-8 Summit of L'Aquila, 8-10 July 2009; Failure to conclude the Doha Round. No specific timeframe for the successful conclusion of the Doha Round in 2010 was set. Increase in protectionism