12 weighty reasons to get a good education

In today’s world, the problem of providing people with food, medical care, and housing is incredibly acute. On the other hand, sociologists are sure that in the long run all of these problems can be solved by raising the level of education. Here are twelve reasons why higher education is actually important and even life-saving.

1) It is not available to all
Today, nearly 61 million children of primary school age don’t attend any educational facility at all. Almost 40 million of these children live in poor countries that are constantly affected by armed conflicts. It is estimated that 250 million children across the globe don’t know how to read, write, or count.

2) Education can actually prolong life
According to statistics, a child born from a mother who knows how to read has 50% more chances to live more than 5 years. Each additional year its mother spends on her education reduces the child mortality rate by 2 percent.

3) Education helps to overcome the gender gap
Education can help eliminate the gender gap once and for all. Today, women constitute two-thirds of the world’s illiterate people.

4) Education increases salary
Another fact concerning women in poor countries is that each additional year of education after the 3rd grade results in a 20% increase in their future wages. And educated mothers vaccinate their children 50% more often.

5) Educated people make more effective decisions
Higher educational level often leads to more effective decisions. This affects career as well as decisions in personal life, for example, choosing life partners, brides, dating, etc. For instance, women in Mali, who obtained at least primary education, have an average of 3 children, while uneducated ones have an average of 7 children.

6) Education helps fight hunger
According to USAID, a higher level of education is one of the best ways to fight hunger.

7) Education helps reduce malnutrition
The International Food Policy Research Institute has published some interesting data. Improved farming practices resulting from higher education levels have led to the reduction of malnutrition level by 40% between 1970 and 1995.
Another interesting fact about the food problem. According to the UN, if women-farmers had the same level of education as men-farmers, the production of agricultural crops in Kenya could grow by more than 20%.

8) Education affects the number of people infected with HIV
If every child in the world obtained an elementary education, in the next decade, seven million HIV cases could be avoided. Studies show that among Ugandans who live in rural areas and have secondary education, the number of HIV infected is 75% lower than among those who don’t have an education.

9) Education is a condition for economic growth
Education is a prerequisite for long-term economic growth. No country in history has achieved sustainable economic growth if not for at least 40% of the educated adult population in it. If women don’t have the same access to higher education as men, developing countries lose an average of $ 90 billion a year.

10) Education affects GDP growth
For each year of additional education, the average growth in personal income grows by 10%. If higher education is available to everyone, this leads to an annual increase in the GDP of any country by 1%.

11) Education promotes peace
It was estimated that each year of education reduces the likelihood of people taking part in violent actions by 20%.

12) Education improves the quality of life
Education helps to combat poverty and promotes sustainable development in developing countries. At the same time, education is one of the most effective ways to improve the quality of life in developing countries.