Module 1: Poverty & Basic Human Needs
Poverty & Basic Education
Poverty & Basic Education
More than anything else, children want to go to
school. Their instinct and desire to go to school, interact
with children and learn is overwhelming, says Stephen Lewis, former UN Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in
Africa. This is the case whether children live in contexts of civil conflict, war, famine or
HIV/AIDS.
Despite this basic human need, millions of children worldwide are not in school. This unit outlines why this situation exists and what needs to be done to change it.
Unit Goals
- Explore basic education as a human right.
- Explore the causes and consequences for the lack of basic education around the world.
- Explore what can be done globally and at home to help support basic education around the world.
In this Unit
- Activity 1: Poverty & Basic Education Group Discussion
- Activity 2: Rights of the Child Photo Essay
- Activity 3: School Inventory Brainstorm-Role-Play
- Activity 4: Stepping Out - Barriers to Education
- Activity 5: Web Quest
- Activity 6: Learning Tree Storyboard Project Team Work
- Why Get a Basic Education?
- School Inventory Checklist
- Poverty & Education Resources
Basic education provides the knowledge, values and skills that form the foundation for lifelong learning.
Fast Facts: Basic Education
More than 77 million children of primary-school age are not in school.
More than half of these are girls.
(UNESCO, 2008)
