Education and Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Education and Development - Essay Example This paper stresses that UNESCO has also identified three dynamically interrelated factors involved in the relationship between education and development: â€Å"the economic benefits of education; the impact of education on population growth, health, and social well-being; and the relationship between education and democratic society† (UNESCO). These serve as three paths or channels in which education can boost economic development. Nigerian education is said to evolve into a number of stage and formed by quite a number of influences such as the colonial influence, the military rule, the impact of independence and a new constitution. Tgis essay makes a conclusion that many realize that the current development trend may not prove to be sustainable and as such public awareness, education and trainings are crucial in moving towards sustainability. As a deviation to the normal concept of development, sustainable development is deemed as one â€Å"that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs†. With this definition, it is realized that education is the key to sustainability. This crucial role of education to sustainable development is established through the necessity of two major issues in sustainable development: population and resource consumption. The UN believes that the two things that can jeopardize sustainable development namely over population and excessive use of resources can be remedied with education. (United Nations General Assembly). Female education is found to have a negative relationship with fertility rates. Specifically, the supply of children is determined by the level of education through four intervening variables: (1) age at marriage, (2) breast feeding (3) post-partum abstinence and (4) child mortality (Akmam). A study in South Asia revealed that women with education around two to five years later than uneducated women (John Cleland). With regard to child mortality, "high rates of child mortality reduce the supply of children, which in turn is likely to increase the demand for children" (Akmam). Since educated parents have higher rates of their child surviving, they do not see the need to have more children thus abating population increase (Akmam).