Today I continue with part two of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) series. This post will address how Periclean Scholars has made strides toward Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education, and Target 2.A: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.
One of the most successful of the MDGs has been this goal. As of 2010, a full 89 percent of children in the developing world were enrolled in primary school.
However, there are still significant challenges that need to be addressed in order for the target to be achieved. For example, rural children are still twice as likely to not be in primary school as urban children. Also, girls from poor households are three and a half times less likely to be in primary school than girls in the richest households and four times less likely than boys in the richest households.
The Class of 2008 worked to advance education of Zapatista children in Chiapas, Mexico, who are very proud of their culture and see education in their native language as the best education. They launched a partnership with Schools for Chiapas in Chiapas, Mexico. A major outcome of this partnership was the rebuilding of a school in San Andres, Chiapas, to ensure the educational dreams and rights of the Zapatista people. The Class of 2013 continues to sustain the partnership with Schools for Chiapas, and they are looking into a pen pal program.
Please watch this video for powerful audio and video from the class’s initial groundwork in 2007 that highlighted San Andres’ educational needs.
Elon Project Pericles in Chiapas, Mexico 2007
The Class of 2011 (Sri Lanka group) also worked to advance this MDG, by partnering with a few schools. Aside from Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia represents the world’s greatest need to improve pupil retention rates. I will highlight two of the schools supported, as I believe they exemplify the class’s strides toward achieving universal primary education.
One Periclean partner school is Panangala Junior School. Students at this school come from extremely low income households. By focusing on such a school, the Class of 2011 worked to close the poverty gap among those most vulnerable to dropping out. The class funded a library and books in both Sinhala and English – tools and structures that will provide a lasting impact to many classes of students. Through the Adopt-A-Student Program, the Periclean Scholars also purchased school supplies and new uniforms for each student. Unfortunately, in many developing nations, if you cannot afford a uniform and supplies, you are not allowed to enroll in school. While these costs may seem nominal to those of us in the developed world, access to these items truly determines the future of young people in the developing world.
The second partnership that I will highlight is with a school in the Nuwara Eliya region in Sri Lanka. Many of the boys and girls attending this school are from extremely low income families, as well. The Periclean Scholars listened to the needs of their partner, the school’s principal, and found that the students have a strong thirst for learning all school subjects and the English language. They also have a strong interest in environmental studies and thrive in the school’s community garden and ranger program. As the Class of 2011 transitions to the Periclean Scholars Alumni Association, they identified additional areas of the Nuwara Eliya school to develop. The principal would like to see the quality of education and access improved by adding a media center, a better English program, and more science instruments. The school needs structural work and electricity. The students would also like to set up a pen-pal system with American students. This partnership illustrates that yes, strides have been made, but that yes, there are also ways to improve the quality of education for young boys and girls. Improving this school’s facilities and programs of study will improve the students’ chance to have successful futures in a variety of fields. There is more than one path to success, and students can discover these paths by having access to a great education.
As in the global community, plenty has been achieved – but needs still need to be met. By listening to our partners, the Periclean Scholars are better prepared to meet these needs and work to achieve universal primary education.
I cannot imagine where I would be without a solid primary education, complete with all of the tools and support necessary to foster an environment of nurturing learning. It never mattered how much money my family made compared to my peers, what color my skin was, whether I was male or female, or whether I had a disability. I was privileged enough to be born in a land where primary education was guaranteed. No child should be denied an education during these formative years. The Periclean Scholars have recognized this fact and worked diligently toward MDG 2.
This is reason #11 to support Periclean Scholars: Help achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 2, achieve universal primary education.
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