Education against PovertyUrban centers have high poverty rates; we can see it day after day in every poor slum surrounding important big cities. We can read it in each newspaper. Different from rural areas, in heavily populated urban areas, people are completely reliant on the market to fulfill their most basic needs, which include things like food and shelter, as well as education, and health care to live life with dignity. Usually most people living in poverty have to work in more than one job only to cover these basic needs. What happens then if the cost of these basic needs goes up at a faster rate than the minimum wage? The obvious answer is: working poor people living in these highly populated urban areas suffer. They become extremely vulnerable to any sort of crisis because of their inability to save up assets in these circumstances. In addition to this the problem of extreme poverty leads to other social illnesses. It immerses people in hunger, illiteracy, extremely low self-esteem, and crime, (just as victims or as criminals). Non-poor people in spite of having better opportunities are also facing the difficulties and risks that result of this situation. If crime is one of the most dangerous emergent of poverty, any one can be a victim. The real solution, the best way we have, to break this repeated cycle of poverty is: young men and women who live under poor economic situations, studying, attending vocational school or college or university, continuing education if adults, and subsequently earning a college degree or university degree. Education is one of the most important tools for social mobility, although it faces big problems in current high education systems, it still remains being vital to solve social inequalities. The emancipating function of high education is extremely important in the fight against poverty. Experts and statistics are showing fundamental data. They tell us something we already knew, because we are facing this reality day after day: people with a post-secondary qualification have better chances to get a well-paid job. In fact high education is a potential tool for people to break away from poverty and establish a foundation for long term and sustainable success. It is the most realistic solution for impoverished people to compete for high-paying jobs and to recover dignity. These people can also become an inspiring example for others. They may be the best helpers in this fight for a new generation of young men and women struggling against poverty through high education. This process of defeating poverty involves our society's profound commitment to high training and high education. Higher education level is the key to everyone's prosperity and security. With it the cycle of poverty may become a cycle of prosperity. |