Two Different Countries, Two Different Schools
We all have our own experiences with issues surrounding education, but what some people don't realize is that those experiences can be different for everyone. The quality of education in third world countries is completely different from what we have here in the United States. We are so focused on the education issues in our own country or state that we don't realize what may be happening in other parts of the world. All issues are valid and important, but some outweigh the others.
New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, we have recently had many issues regarding the funding of our schools. Historically, the idea of taxes and how they should be paid has been a prominent topic in discussions, and now it has made a reappearance. New Hampshire citizens all say that the current school system isn't beneficial for students or taxpayers. The government is attempting to create a new formula for taxes and the funding of schools, but each one evidently has a major flaw.
The New Hampshire Commission to Study School Funding met to discuss these issues and tried themselves to come up with a solution (Rayno). This group worked together to develop a formula that would provide the resources needed to benefit each school district equally (Rayno). The formula would have accomplished that without a large sum of money from the taxpayers (Rayno). However, after they tested it they discovered that it still had some major flaws. Many of the commission members pointed out that it would likely give greater benefits to schools in wealthier communities, like Waterville Valley and Newington (Rayno).
Simply put, our current system of funding doesn't address the differences in tax rates, students' needs, and other economic disadvantages of each district.
Sierra Leone
Now, after reading a little about the issues in our school system here in New Hampshire, take a look at what's happening in third-world countries, like Sierra Leone. You may not be familiar with Sierra Leone's history, but from 1991 to 2002 they endured the Sierra Leone Civil War, which destroyed their education system (Ozisik). The war took down 1,270 primary schools and caused 67 percent of all students to not have access to school (Ozisik).
("School Kids, Sierra Leone")
There's a law in Sierra Leone that says the first nine years of school are mandatory, but with all of the issues they have had since the war, it's impossible for the country to enforce it (Ozisik). Today, the country is still struggling to rebuild its education system. There are many parts of their schools that need significant improvement, but they don't have the ability to fix them. In 2016 it was found that 41 percent of the male teachers and 28 percent of the female teachers didn't have proper teaching qualifications ("Sierra Leone"). On top of that, there's also an extreme shortage of supplies. Oftentimes up to four or five students have to share one textbook (Ozisik).
Girls Education
Girls' education is one of the major issues in Sierra Leone that has existed for decades. Only 18 percent of the girls in Sierra Leone complete all 12 years of school (Thomas). With the shortage of supplies and facilities, it's impossible for all of the children to enroll in school, and society still prefers boys to be more educated. Gender inequality is still very prominent in Sierra Leone, as many girls are instructed to stay home and learn household skills while their brothers go off to school.
Over 60 percent of young girls are married before the age of 18, and some even by the age of 11 (Ozisik). Plus, Sierra Leone has one of the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy (Ozisik). Their cultural beliefs force them to marry and start a family early. That's why many girls never complete more than six years of school. In 2010, the government had actually prohibited pregnant girls and teenage mothers from enrolling in school (Kiendrebeogo). This was enforced for the last 10 years, but luckily, the country ended that ban this year (Kiendrebeogo).
Sierra Leone still has a long way to go, but they will continue to take steps in the right direction and hopefully, their education system will improve greatly.
After reading about the issues in both New Hampshire and Sierra Leone, can you see the differences between them? I'm not saying that our problems with funding aren't important or valid, but they also aren't the worst-case scenario.
Works Cited
Cohen, Mike. "Fund." Flickr, 17 Aug. 2013,Rayno, Garry. "Report: NH's School Funding System Fails Students and Taxpayers." InDepthNH.org, 10
Riemersma, Feije. "Girl and Baby." Flickr, 18 Mar. 2009,
"School Kids, Sierra Leone." Flickr, 3 July 2013,
Thomas, Abdul Rashid. "New NGO in Sierra Leone Launches National Recruitment Campaign." Sierra
Chloe, I really like your last paragraph where you tied the two subjects together. It's very true that we tend to focus on our own countries issues and I agree with you that it's important to see how other countries are doing and the problems they have. I also like the images you chose, and it was interesting for me to read about Sierra Leone because I've never heard of that country. That's very sad that less than 18% of girls finish 12 years of school there. I wonder what the percentage is here?
ReplyDeleteI can totally see the difference between the two. I really liked how you included the part about girls education and how still to this day gender equality plays a role there and even everywhere. Even with some organizations going over to help, do you think there could be more done to help? For example, securing safety for children who shouldn't have to worry about the war going on right behind them.
ReplyDeleteThere are indeed many organizations that are helping in anyway that they can. For one, UNICEF has sent many grants to Sierra Leone over the past decade, and they continue to do so. I think it's inevitable that schools would shut down with a war going on, but maybe there could be someway that children in countries like that could be taught at home or in small groups? That's one of the things that they are trying to figure out now with the pandemic shutting down schools as well.
DeleteThis is a very well-written post, Chloe. Thank you for your thoughtfulness about this topic and for your perspective. Do you think that the funding issue maybe should have been resolved with the plan the Commission came up with, especially seeing as the wealthier communities already have more funding for schools because they are wealthier and have higher home prices?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think would be the most valuable thing for Sierra Leone to try and accomplish within their school system? I enjoyed the different issues that you brought up. Very interesting to not focus on a single issue that both countries have in common and instead show the vast differences between both in terms of the issues that they are having with the Educational systems within their countries.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post, it definitely made me open my eyes more. I know that being in the U.S has so many benefits going for it and reading about younger girls not being able to get the education they need and are instead getting pregnant and married makes me sad and mad at the same time. Because they're not getting the opportunities they could be receiving .
ReplyDelete