The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes education as a legal right of every child. Yet education remains a privilege to many. UNESCO data shows that 258 million children and youth were out of school for the school year ending in 2018. Of that total, more than 129 million were girls and 58 million were of primary school age.

Among those fortunate to have access to education, on the other hand, more than 617 million children and adolescents do not have minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics.

1. What is education?
2. Why is education important?
3. What are the different types of education?
4. What are the benefits of education?
5. What does World Vision do to make education more accessible for girls and boys?
6. How can I contribute toward making education accessible?
7. Quick facts about education in Canada and the world

1. What is education?
Education is the process where an individual acquires or imparts basic knowledge to another. It is also where a person:

• develops skills essential to daily living,
• learns social norms,
• develops judgment and reasoning, and
• learns how to discern right from wrong.

The ultimate goal of education is to help an individual navigate life and contribute to society once they become older.

There are various types of education but typically, traditional schooling dictates the way one’s education success is measured. People who attended school and attained a higher level of education are considered more employable and likely to earn more.

In developing, low-income countries, for example, there is a projected 10 per cent increase in a person’s future income for every additional year of education.

Education helps eradicate poverty and hunger, giving people the chance at better lives. This is one of the biggest reasons why parents strive to make their kids attend school as long as possible. It is also why nations work toward promoting easier access to education for both children and adults.