There have always been inequalities in our environment, but with the economic crisis these are accentuated and although in theory it is very good to say that education is universal and free, this does not mean that there is educational equity. The economic difficulties in many families mean that children lack material, adequate food and are at greater risk of abandonment.
In the campaign and the report of Save the Children "Illuminating the future" They remind us that equality in education is to guarantee a fair, inclusive and quality system that ensures that children's right. And all this because that way we fight against child poverty.
As education is not something exclusively related to the school but it involves the family and social environment, the report analyzes the school, family and social factors that influence children's access to education in Spain. Based on all this, it shows the specific data of each autonomous community through an index of educational equity.
The situation of poverty and exclusion suffered by more and more families in Spain, is affecting the children of school age more severely. Almost 34% of children live at risk of poverty or social exclusion and poverty is depriving them of educational opportunities.
Thus Save the Children makes a request so that the Government of Spain and those of the Autonomous Communities develop and implement effective policies that fight against child poverty. In short, the report wants to inspire a change in the current trend of childhood policies, quite neglected.
And, although it seems quite clear that investing in childhood is investing in education, the politicians seem not to want to see it because neither one nor the other devotes enough attention, no matter how much the siren song sounds about certain insufficient actions clearly.
Sometimes I think if we do not realize that children are the future or if we do not want a good education for fear of something, do not want "those above" to form a critical society? Shouldn't we reduce inequalities?
Finally, I would like to do it with the quotation that opens the report whose reading I recommend, words of Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani student, activist and blogger, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014:
A child, a teacher, a book and a pen can change the world. Education is the only solution.
Official Site | Save the Children
In Babies and more | Because of the crisis and the cuts, 33.8% of Spanish children live at risk of poverty or social exclusion, UNICEF proposes a State Pact for Children in Spain, do you join?
