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The infrastructure is very poor in South Africa. The buildings are unsafe and not fit for students to learn in. The danger makes it harder for kids to attend school. Many children lack access to safe and well-equipped schools. Overcrowded classrooms, poor sanitation including dangerous pit latrines, and outdated buildings are common. These problems mostly affect poor and Black students, keeping poverty and inequality alive. Even though the government promises quality education, many schools still do not have basic facilities like libraries, labs, or electricity. Because of this, dropout rates are high and few disadvantaged students make it to university.

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South Africa's broken and unequal education laid bare

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The South African education system, characterized by crumbling infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms and relatively poor educational outcomes, is perpetuating inequality and as a result failing too many of its children, with the poor hardest hit according to a new report published by Amnesty International today.

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I chose Quality Education because I care deeply about bettering the education of the youth.

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Goal 4: Quality education - The Global Goals

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Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

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This article made me realize I want to focus on South Africa as they are ranked incredibly low on the OECD. There is an insane gap between other countries and South Africa. South Africa’s education system is among the most unequal in the world. While top schools excel, 27% of students who have attended school for six years cannot read, and only 37% pass the matriculation exam. Less than 25% of math teachers are competent at the level they teach, and outdated teaching methods contribute to the crisis. Teach With Africa partners with LEAP Science and Maths Schools and the Global Teachers Institute to address these challenges through teacher training and support.

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South Africa has one of the most unequal school systems in the world. Children in the top 200 schools achieve more distinctions in mathematics than children in the next 6,600 schools combined. The gap in test scores between the top 20% of schools and the other 80% is wider than any other country in the world. According to the OECD, South Africa's education system ranks 75 th out of 76 mainly rich countries.

The Bantu Education Act of 1953 as part of apartheid ensured that white South Africans would receive a better education than blacks. Black South Africans were not allowed to be taught math or sciences, and black students received only about a fifth of the funding of white peers.

Once Nelson Mandela became president in 1994, his government expanded access to schooling and replaced a school system segregated by race with one divided by wealth. Math and science have been taught in all schools since 1994.

Teaching is at the core of the learning crisis. South Africa needs 25,000 new teachers each year, but only 6,000 teachers are trained annually. Educators themselves have not received a good education. Less than 25% of mathematics teachers are competent at the level they teach.

Educators are trained to deliver outmoded "chalk and talk" rote learning classes and seldom receive support and advice from more experienced teachers. A high level of absenteeism is another major problem, as well as overcrowding and high student to teacher ratios in the classrooms. Teacher recruitment, training, and support systems need to be overhauled to deliver more effective classroom instruction, as well as the socio-emotional development of both the teachers and students for a more holistic and globally minded approach to education.

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South Africa has one of the most unequal school systems in the world.

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The education is not terrible but it could be made better. You can never stop growing or stop improving. South Africa’s education system has improved with more preschool and university enrollment and fewer adults without schooling but big problems remain. Less than half of students finish school, only 28 percent of adults complete high school, few poor students excel in maths, and graduate unemployment is rising.

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Education in SA: The Good, the Bad, The Ugly. - The Home Of Great South African News

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EDUCATION IN SA A Centre for Risk Analysis Report ‘Education the single greatest obstacle to socio-economic advancement in South Africa’, the April edition of Fast Facts from the Centre for Risk Analysis, seeks to provide a definitive assessment of the quality and output of the South African education system. The report finds that, while there […]

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This article helped me realize I wanted to focus of improving education to help our declining intelligence globally. Good Reason Houston shows only 20 percent of students from 2017 are earning a living wage within six years, and just 27 percent complete a postsecondary credential. Lots of graduates aren’t ready for real life and face low‑wage jobs instead. HISD is trying to turn things around with bold reforms like the New Education System, and some schools are improving. But reading and math scores still lag, so Houston must be honest about its progress, fund schools fairly, and act boldly to make sure every student succeeds.

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Houston’s Public Schools Are Failing Our Kids—Here’s How We Fix It

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Houston is a city that prides itself on big dreams and bold action. We call ourselves the city of opportunity, a place where hard work pays off and ambition has no limits. Yet, for far too many of our young people, this promise remains unfulfilled. New research from Good Reason Houston paints a sobering picture: […]

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There are many regions with lots of education issues but I chose to focus on South Africa because they rated the second lowest in the world on education.

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The article talks about how the EU is trying to improve education and skills to keep up with the rest of the world. Many students in Europe are falling behind in subjects like math and science, and there are big differences between countries. The EU has some programs like Erasmus+ and new ideas to fix this, but there’s still a lot of work to do. If they don’t invest more and work together better, the changes might not be enough.

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Europe’s education gamble: Can the EU compete in a changing world?

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Can Europe’s education and skills agenda tackle declining outcomes and innovation gaps to ensure competitiveness and cohesion?

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UNESCO reports that before COVID hit, about 128 million children in Asia Pacific weren’t enrolled in school, and the pandemic only made things worse, with millions more at risk of dropping out. To help, they launched the “Learning Coin” program in Thailand, where kids earn small monthly scholarships, around 10% of their family income, just by reading daily using a tablet app. This not only helps them improve their reading skills but also supports their families. In 2023, the program will grow to six more provinces and reach at least 500 vulnerable kids, including migrants.

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Education crisis impacting disadvantaged youth and migrant learners in

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New open-access publication, Inclusive Innovation (Routledge, 2022), highlights ‘Learning Coin’ as exemplary lifelong learning initiative in South-East Asia

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Every child needs a good education. Starting with a disciplined education will set up the youth for a strong future and career. It is very important to start kids young and help them maintain their high quality work ethic.

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Low access to quality education is common, especially in low income areas. Low income goes hand in hand with low education. This is because school funding comes from property taxes in the area. When the taxes are low, the money going into the school is low as well.

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We’re sorry, we can’t find the page you’re looking for. It might have been removed, changed its name, or is otherwise unavailable.

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Globally, education is not at the level it should be for the advancements we have made as a society. This has been addressed and countries are working towards raising educational standards. The United States is focused on raising graduation rates.

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Mapping the Future of Higher Education Internationalization

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NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange.

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Literacy rates in the United States are incredibly low. Many adults are functionally illiterate and working in the real world without proper comprehension skills. The literacy rates start from elementary school. Children need to be able to know what they are reading before they grow up and become illiterate adults.

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The literacy rate is the total number of literate persons (people able to both read and write) in a given age group, expressed as the percentage of that age group. The adult literacy rate measures literacy among persons age 15 and older.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about four out of five U.S. adults (79%) have medium to high English literacy skills. These literacy levels are sufficient to compare and contrast information, paraphrase, and make low-level inferences. This means that about one in five U.S. adults (21%) have low literacy skills, translating to about 43.0 million adults.

Of those who have low English literacy skills, 35% are White, 2% of whom are born outside of the U.S.; 23% are Black, 3% of whom are born outside of the U.S.; 34% are Hispanic, 24% of whom are born outside of the U.S.; 8% are of other races/ethnicities. Non-U.S.-born adults comprise 34% of the U.S. population with low literacy skills.

Literacy rates vary greatly by state and are affected by several factors.

States with the High Literacy Rates

New Hampshire has the lowest percentage (5.8%) of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills, making New Hampshire's literacy rate of 94.2%. About 36.6% of adults in New Hampshire have a Bachelor's degree or higher, the seventh-highest rate in the country, and 60.8% of the population are registered library users, also the seventh-highest in the country.

Minnesota has the second-highest literacy rate of 94.0%, with only 6% of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills. About 69.9% of Minnesota residents are registered library users, the second-highest in the country.

North Dakota has the third-highest literacy rate of 93.7%, with 6.3% of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills. North Dakota, however, has the lowest percentage of registered library users of 35.9%.

Vermont has the fourth-highest literacy rate of 93.4%, with 6.6% of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills. Vermont is also the fourth-most educated state in the U.S.. Vermont has the highest number of libraries per 100,000 people of 29.8 and has the eighth-highest Bachelor's degree or higher attainment of 36.4%.

South Dakota has the fifth-highest literacy rate of 93.0%, with 7.0% of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills. South Dakota has 16.4 public libraries per 100,000 residents, the fifth-highest in the country.

States with the Lowest Literacy Rates

California's 23.1% of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills make California have the lowest literacy rate of 76.9%. The state of California and the state Department of Education are being blamed and sued for the failing literacy rate, as families and students believe that they are not receiving a quality education in reading and writing.

New York has the second-highest percentage of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills of 22.1%, equaling a literacy rate of 77.9%. Despite this, New York has the ninth-highest percentage of adults with Bachelor's degrees or higher of 35.7%.

Florida has the third-highest percentage of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills of 19.7%, equaling a literacy rate of 80.3%. Florida has the lowest number of public libraries per 100,000 residents of 2.6.

Texas has the fourth-lowest literacy rate of 81.0%, with 19.0% of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills. Texas has the fourth-lowest number of libraries of 3.2 per 100,000 residents.

The fifth-lowest literacy rate in the United States is in New Jersey, where 16.9% of adults lack basic prose literacy skills, and 83.1% are literate. Despite this, 38.6% of New Jersey adults have a Bachelor's degree or higher, the country's fifth-highest. Additionally, New Jersey also has the third-best public schools.

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The literacy rate is the total number of literate persons (people able to both read and write) in a given age group, expressed as the percentage of that age group. The adult literacy rate measures literacy among persons age 15 and older. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about four out of five U.S.

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The blog offers ten clear steps to help schools boost reading skills. First, schools should assess current literacy levels and set measurable goals for students. Training teachers in proven reading strategies and using a balanced curriculum with both print and audiobooks helps students learn better. Early intervention for kids falling behind, building a reading-friendly school culture (like through classroom libraries and read-alouds), and involving families and the wider community are also key. Using tech tools such as e-books and interactive platforms, tracking progress with assessments, and sharing successful practices across classrooms all help keep improvement going.

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How to Improve Reading Proficiency and Literacy Rates Across the District – TCEA TechNotes Blog

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Explore 10 steps to improve reading proficiency and literacy district-wide, and learn about a no-cost audiobook solution for Texas schools! Explore this and more at TCEA TechNotes Blog, your go-to source for educational technology and teaching innovation.

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Literacy Texas is a statewide group that supports adult and family literacy programs across Texas by providing training, resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy. They help nonprofit staff and volunteers through free regional events, a yearly conference, online courses, and leadership programs. Around 4.8 million adults in Texas need literacy help, but only a small number are being reached. Literacy Texas works to close that gap so more adults and families can fully take part in society.

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Literacy Texas is a statewide literacy coalition, connecting/equipping literacy programs through resources, training, networking & advocacy.

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Panorama Education collected 18 proven ways for schools to help every student become a better reader by third grade, noting that kids who can't read well by then are four times more likely to drop out of high school. The strategies include setting clear reading goals, creating a strong curriculum based on the science of reading, supporting teachers with coaching, and using data to give help right when it is needed. Schools are also encouraged to build a district team focused on literacy, involve families in the learning process, and use tools to track student progress. By combining teacher training, strong interventions, community involvement, and data tools, schools can build a whole‑school reading plan that really works.

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18 Literacy Strategies to Get Every Student Reading

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From setting clear goals to engaging families, discover how to create a culture of literacy in your district with these 18 effective strategies.

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The U.S. education system is struggling, with rising costs but poor results, leaving many students unprepared and disengaged. Stand Together suggests seven ways to improve education by putting students first. These include personalizing learning with tools like AI tutors, mixing learning models such as games and schoolwork, and giving families more school choices like microschools or homeschooling. Students should have more control over how they learn, and teacher aides should be supported to become full teachers. Some schools are even led by students with coaches instead of traditional teachers.

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7 ways to improve the quality of education in the U.S.

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Ways to improve the quality of education in the U.S.: (1) Move toward individualized education, (2) draw upon the power of partnerships in education reform, (3) empower families through nontraditional education models.

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Sub-Saharan Africa has an illiteracy rate of 34% in 2025. This is almost 3.9 million adults. This problem stems from apartheid‑era segregation and still shows today in poor school infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and a shortage of qualified teachers, especially in disadvantaged areas.

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Tackling Illiteracy Rates in South Africa - The Borgen Project

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Despite these advancements, challenges still exist when it comes to tackling illiteracy rates in South Africa. A significant literacy gap…

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I want to research the declining levels of education and the NES in Texas and North America in general. The issues must be addressed to reach goal 4. I will focus on North America and approach the goal of everyone having quality Education. I want to research this because an education is the baseline of your life. A quality Education sets you up for life.

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What is a real way I can heavily improve literacy rates in my local area or even nationally as a teenager?