Poverty can strike anyone; it is both a national and international problem. Differing societal living conditions affect children’s outcomes as it relates to poverty. I visited the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Center page (http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/). As I was reading through the web page I came across a publication, Migrating for More: Children's Access to Education in Mongolia and I read the following report summary, Children on the move: Rural-urban migration and access to education in Mongolia. The focus of the report was whether or not migration impacts the education of Mongolian children.
According to the report, schools in rural areas had a decrease in the student population due to migration. The school environment lacked adequate heat in an area where it is cold; lacked equipment and materials for learning as well as a decline in teaching standards. Teachers were not receiving adequate training. These issues in turn pushed many families to leave their rural areas and seek urban education for their children (Child Poverty Research and Policy Centre, 2005).
It was interesting to learn that Mongolian families not only migrate to find work, but that these families value education for their children’s success. Many families migrate so as to provide their children a better education (CHIP, 2005). The quality of teaching in urban areas is far superior however these families face other education challenges. Urban schools are sadly not equipped to handle the large numbers migrating children; they lack the room and resources to address the learning needs of all the children. In addition, the migrant children are working to catch up to the curriculum level of all the other students and therefore are discriminated against (CHIP, 2005). Sadly many of the students drop out of school because their families are struggling to provide for basic needs, students live in homes with inadequate heat and electricity preventing them studying or the students felt they did not have familial support (CHIP, 2005).
The education system in Mongolia had some similarities to the education system in our country with some themes that plague our school systems. Teachers are not adequately trained. Teachers also feel pressured to encourage and move students forward academically without providing great teaching care to those migrant students who need time to adapt and perhaps achieve academic success as well (CHIP, 2005). The education system is not accessible by all and adequate supports are not provided for migrant children (CHIP, 2005). Lastly, education budget funds are limited and are not enough to sustain and provide quality education for all the entire country.
Disenfranchised children may look different, but I learned through this study and website that education is lacking across the board and the physical, emotional and academic needs of these children are not being met.
Georgia, great post. I think that all of these countries seem to be lacking in the education area. It also seems as though they haavw the same problem that the United States has, and every other country in that teachers are not adequately trained. My husband used to work for a company that was owned by Mongolians and one would never think that the country has poverty.
ReplyDeleteGeorgia,
ReplyDeleteI also read about Mongolia. I was interested to read that other reasons children in Mongolia do not attend school is that they're not accepted into schools once they migrate, they do not have schools close enough to thier homes, or they can't afford the cost of attendance. I read from the site that migrant children are 3 times more likely to be out of school than those who did not migrate. I agree with you about the teacher preparation both in our country as well as thier's. Migration is becoming more common all over the world, yet teachers are not trained how to work with migrant children. It really is an issue that needs addressed.
Hi! Georgia,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your insights from CHIP. I do think that every country has poverty. I do believe that some areas and cases are worse than others. Poverty to me is a very depressing issue because I look at my classroom and see what my children and there families go through. I do believe that something needs to be done about it. I was wondering, How do you feel about the United States sending aid overseas,when we have issues here that needs to be addressed?
Amanda Stapleton-Tuhy
Georgia,
ReplyDeleteYour post is a very comprehensive look at life for children in Mongolia. As we are researching these other countries I am amazed at how similar some of the issues are to those faced here in the United States. Great post!
Georgia,
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent post. I was able to look at it from many different sides. I brought it back home and found that in my local area, we have a differing problem. The rural schools are usually better suited for the children with smaller child to teacher ratios, better funding, and less violence. These schools are seeing a migration of families moving away from the bustle of large cities and into quiet and quaint towns.
Georgia,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love reading about all the different places that everyone chose especially when it relates to education. Thanks for sharing.