A Call for equal Opportunity in Education by Aminat Adesope

 It has been found by researchers in education that the odds are stacked high against the children from a deprived socio-economic background. A child whose parents are illiterates and poor is likely not to do well at school compared to the child whose parents are well educated and financially comfortable.  Children whose parents are rich and educated know the value of education. Rich and educated parents do make sure their children lack nothing. They therefore usually do everything to make sure they provide any learning aid that will assist and develop their children. For instance Children of the rich have access to the basic things such as information from electronic media. Rich Parents also spend money buying teaching materials that aid the children in their learning.

The case of the children of the poor and illiterate parents is different. Even if the desire to buy teaching materials for the children is there, the parents are usually financially handicapped. The problem in the rural area where people are cut-off from modern civilization does not help matters. Children trek a long distance to their schools, while city children have schools close to their homes. Parents in the city who can afford even pay for transportation and the school buses do go to the gates of their homes to pick their children and bring them back after school.

A child whose parents are highly educated and rich and who has constant access to the education facilities normally finishes school at the very tender age when compared to the child of the same age brought up in rural area or whose parents are not educated and are poor. Therefore, it is unfair when children from different backgrounds are not taken into consideration when setting the same examination for admission into higher institutions. I therefore recommend that special percentage be given to the children from poor background when it comes to the issue of employment.

I feel it is unfair that our leaders are not thinking of how to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. What then do we expect from the socially and educationally disadvantaged children who want to be seen to belong? After much struggle without a desired result, some of those children vent their frustrations on the society. What the society witnesses as a result are anti-social behaviour and different crimes mostly from youths from disadvantaged homes.

I believe the only solution is for every government to earmark good capital for rural development. I use this medium to make a clarion call to the governments at all levels to provide necessary infrastructure such as feeder roads, water, primary health care, schools, electricity and pipe or potable water in all rural communities in the country. 

Aminat is our Staff Writer.