CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales

Education and school

Taking children, particularly girls, out of school in order to work is one way poor families try to cope with financial hardship. Even if there are no school fees, many struggle to afford the necessary pencils, paper, shoes and clothes

Aid has ensured millions more children worldwide receive a primary education. [Richard Wainwright]

This may help make ends meet in the short term, but the cost is huge in the long term. Even when working children manage to attend school, they will certainly attend less regularly and do less well than their peers.

In rich countries, people have an average of ten years of schooling; in developing countries the average is four. Poor transport and long distances to school make it even more difficult to attend.

Without the chance of a full education, children do not get the qualifications they need for decent jobs, which perpetuates the cycle of poverty into the next generation and beyond.


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Published on 11/10/2010, last updated on 15/08/2011
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