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Mateo Quiroga
Ms. Thompson
AP Language, Block 2, Skinny A
6 April 2015
The Importance of Global Education: Social and Economic Benefits
It is an ubiquitous aspiration to possess a grand life that is capable of
providing for oneself, ones family, and lastly ones society. In order to tackle
such ambitious goal, one must utilize lifes most fundamental tool,
education. The great philosopher, Benjamin Franklin, once said, An
investment in knowledge pays off the best interests. The idea of investing in
ones education to attain a better future is not abstract, as seen evident
throughout many societies in the Western world. Education opens the doors
for countless opportunities, such as moving up the social class ladder or
attaining a career, instead of a job. Melissa Fleming, UN Refugee Agencys
spokesperson, had the pleasure of interviewing education-deprived refugee
children from Africa. In her interview, the children acknowledged the
importance of education and understood that education allows them to
think of their future rather than the nightmare of their past (Lets Help
Refugees). Individuals in developing countries understand that in order to
prosper, they must exploit all educational opportunities available to them.
The opportunities, unfortunately, are limited, as governments in developing
countries do not prioritize education and do not offer the same opportunities
for all social classes. This occurrence is not scarce. For decades, the

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importance of education has been undermined causing it to become a global

privilege; it is imperative for society to endorse the right of education in
order to develop the social and economic structure of developing nations.
Notably, as third world governments progressively avow the
importance of education, this new realization has led to the growth of
investments allotted to education. These investments, in turn, have resulted
in health care advancements that have led government officials to
apprehend the notion that a country with a better education system is a
healthier country. Lorraine Symaco, director of the Centre for Research in
International and Comparative Education, conducted a research study that
investigates the connection between a countrys education system and its
respective health department. In her study, Symaco was able to highlight the
relevance of training, whether in formal or through community participation,
in preparing for the effects of a disaster (Symaco 12). A nations health
department extends far beyond the medical facilities and service; it is also
inclusive of the systematic approach by a country concerning preparation
and response during a national disaster. Symacos research signifies that a
countrys structure and well-being is highly impacted by its citizens
preparation, which emphasizes the importance of education. Moreover, the
document study goes forward to state that higher education leads to higher
occupational class and income, which, in turn, increases the chance of better
health (14). The study denotes the direct cause and effect that is evident
with the presence of education: educated individuals hold higher

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occupational positions, which allow them to benefit from higher incomes.

One would then be able to make the safe assumption that individuals with a
greater income have the ability to take time off their career and invest more
resources into their personal health through frequent medical examinations,
personal fitness memberships, and healthier diets.
Similarly, the presence of education has another major consequence to
a nation and its individuals: its impact on the nations economy. An
individuals income is heavily dependent on the highest education level
achieved by such individual, as their level of education usually determines
their mental abilities and limits in regards to occupations. In a news article
by Education Week, research studies concluded that there is a strong
correlation between level of education and level of income, which further
emphasizes the importance of education, especially in developing nations.
The research study analyzed the education system in the U.S. and its
contribution to the economy. Alarmingly, the study concluded that the
economic growth and expansion of income classes in America are stagnating
and it may be due to the significance of education decaying (Greenstone and
Looney). This further denoted the relationship between income and an
individuals education level. Relating to developing nations, individuals
exposed to higher structured education system should expect a higher
income, which would then contribute to the growth of the developing nation.
At the Summit of the Americas, education advocate Shakira Mebarak
reiterated the importance of education, especially early education as it is

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the most important tool we hold, the most important, to eradicate poverty
and to guarantee national economic growth. Opportunities in education
would allow individuals born in a low-income class to climb up the economic
class, which would allow them to escape the reoccurring cycle of poverty.
Current American mentality highlighting the importance education is rapidly
lessening, which has been evident as the growth of individuals moving up
the economic classes is decreasing. Researchers believe this change in
mentality will have a negative impact on the nations economic condition in
upcoming years. In addition, the article emphasizes, Americans who do not
graduate from high school earn less and are much less likely to have jobs
than their more educated peers. On a more personal level, less educated
Americans are less likely to marry and more likely to raise a child in poverty,
which reduces the prospects of intergenerational mobility (Greenstone and
Looney). In order to successfully start and raise a family, especially in
developing nations, it is imperative that the household heads receive a
sufficient income that would cover the high cost of raising a child. An article
published by the UN News Centre highlighted the significance of educating
women in developing countries as a child born to a mother who can read is
fifty per cent more likely to survive past the age of five (Investing in
Education Will Help Advance Global Anti-poverty Targets). This statistic is
based on the contended fact that educated working women are more prone
to investing in their household than their male counterparts. A mother who
has received proper education will work tirelessly to ensure her child goes

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without lacking any essentials. Individuals success and happiness is

exceedingly contingent on their level of education. In connection to
developing nations, individuals who seek to raise a family will have higher
chances doing so if their education level is high. The dreams of an individual
can all be limited by their education. An individual may dream to have a
family and an excellent quality of life, but at the end of the day, his or her
level of education will limit their futures.
To conclude, education is key to the development of a nation, which is
why it is imperative that nation prioritize education in an effort to annihilate
poverty and promote economic growth. Countless amount of research has
been conducted to denote the correlation between education, income,
health, and family: all of which indicate that education is significant in order
to have a quality lifestyle. Developing nations ought to invest in feature
education systems that would yield a highly educated society capable of
acquiring greater income, which would result in a grander national economic
growth. Moreover, citizens would have a greater pool of resources, such as
money and ability to take time off, to invest in health prevention and
treatment, thus ensuring a healthy extensive life. The advantages of
educating a nations citizens are innumerable and prove to be highly
beneficial to the individuals and the nation, which is why developing nations,
ought to reaffirm the right of education to everyone. Action needs to be
taken now: action that would culminate in a more developed social and
economic structure for the developing nations.

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