Through this group discussion activity, students will explore the importance of a basic education, including the links with poverty.

Process

1. Start by explaining that basic education provides the foundation for life-long learning. (see Fact Sheet: Poverty & Basic Education around the World)

2. Inform students that more than 77 million children of primary-school age are not in school.

3. Divide the class into groups of four.

4. Each group gets a question asking them to think about why children need a basic education. To help students, ask them to think about basic human needs (food, water, shelter, health, safety) and how education could help achieve different basic human needs. Also ask them to think about: What would your lives be like if you hadn't gone to primary school? What would your lives be like if you couldn't finish your education?

5. Give students time for group discussion and then groups share with the rest of the class.

6. Give each student a copy of the Student Handout - Why get a basic education? Compare what the students discussed with the information provided in the Handout. Were there any differences?

Key Words

• Jobs
• Health
• Nutrition
• HIV/AIDS
• Marriage & Children
• Decision-making
• Rights
• Exploitation

Questions

• How will education help me develop skills for life?

• I can get a job without going to school so how will education help me?

• Why do I need to be educated about health and nutrition?

• How will getting educated about HIV/AIDS help me?

• How will getting an education make a difference to me marrying and having children?

• How will be being educated about rights and exploitation help me?