Common problems affecting education worldwide
An error on a students computer (Arsh Tiwari/The Puma Prensa)
Written By: Arsh Tiwari, staff writer
Education is considered one of the most powerful tools to success and a way to promote future social and economic development. However, there are many complications impairing education worldwide. These issues include products of conflict and unsafe environments as well as the lack of student resources and qualified teachers, depleting motivation is discouraging students from achieving set goals in their career. Education is something that can help fight against poverty and engage future prosperity so it is essential to maintain consistency of quality education.
Conflict is one of the most significant factors impacting quality education. According to the United States Agency for International Development “Half of all children not attending school are living in a conflict zone” which is estimated to be “some 125 million in total” keeping 50 million out of schools due to local disputes. According to an informative article by Elevate The USA “Every year, over 1.2 million students drop out of high school in the United States alone. That’s one student every 26 seconds – or 7,000 a day” in which they “commit about 75% of crimes.”Gang related activity and general violence are often the leading causes for dropouts in the USA. Inferior education quality and a fearsome environment is often caused by extreme violence and poverty. Another example of antagonism damaging a chain of proper education is the humanitarian crisis in Sudan which left nearly “19 million children” without access to a proper education as violence escalated according to a news article by Corner USA. Such a tragic event left many individuals without crucial years of education foreshadowing a dark path for the social economic status within the country.
Maria Carrillo High School is not a prime location for conflict, however times of distress in the school district with weapon violence raised tension and angst in the learning environment. In the 2022 to 2023 school years, many frightening events such as lockdowns and weapon use took place which questioned the school’s safety. In a tragic event that carried out in 2023, a student was stabbed to death resulting from personal feud in a neighboring Montgomery High School, which raised distress in the School District, causing many walkouts and protests for a safer learning domain. Students at Maria Carrillo organized a workout in cooperation with School staff to raise awareness about violence at school and the need for safety. Students and staff went to such extents because they felt unprotected and vulnerable in their environment. Protests demanded for a resource officer to monitor and protect the campus.
Issues within the teaching profession are also damaging to a quality education worldwide. According to Jennifer King Rice’s informative, Teacher Quality, “better teaching quality is the greatest determining factor for increased student achievement,”. Underpaid and unpassionate teachers are often the reason for a failing classroom. When a teacher is not advocating and supporting the student, they often fall off schedule and the curriculum. “Teachers are often losing passion for teaching and do not advocate for the students,” said Andreas Arias, a junior at Maria Carrillo High School. Nowadays the younger and incoming teachers are more inclined to adapt to problems proposed by students rather than traditionally taking action against the problem by terminating privileges. It is common that a teacher will limit phone or headphone uses if it becomes an obstacle in the curriculum regardless of the minority of the problem. A rather liberal approach towards teaching often allows a smoother flow of education in a generation where traditional methods of teaching may not be comprehended by all students.
The lack of additional support and resources for classes is frequently the root to why many students cannot comprehend the subjects taught to them. Access to additional support for advanced courses is often limited as many schools don't offer after school tutoring for all classes. Students express desire for more accessible tutoring resources especially for more challenging courses such as AP or Honors Placement. ”Personal tutoring for other classes such as AP Chem should be made possible,” said Javieer Walia, an MCHS junior, since Math tutoring is the only free after-school tutoring program provided. The lack of teachers in Advanced courses is the reason as to why there is minimal additional support. “Mrs. Schermer is the only AP Chemistry teacher, and she teaches a lot of classes already” said Henry Nguyen, a junior, mirroring the inadequate abundance of teachers for certain departments. The intense workload at Maria Carrillo is often unbalanced with the minimal additional support offered.
The lack of resources, quality education, and a safe and unproblematic learning environment demonstrate the complex and multifaceted problems affecting education worldwide. From conflict and environment to teaching and resource challenges, there is an obligation to address the necessity for support and to evade the obstacles within the educational system. Altogether investing in safe and qualified education will not only bridge the gap and offer support to students internationally but will also engage socioeconomic growth.