Illiteracy and Poverty: the Vicious Cycle of Disadvantage

Educational outcomes are one of the key areas influenced by family incomes. Poverty significantly affects the resources available to students. Due to this lack of resources, many students struggle to reach the same academic achievement levels of students not living in poverty.

The factors affecting student achievement include Income, source of income, and the mother's education level. Although many poor students score below average on assessment measures, instructional techniques and Strategies implemented at the classroom, school, district, and government levels can help close the achievement gap by providing students with necessary assistance in order to achieve high performance in academics. Student achievement, particularly for at-risk students, is affected by the values and beliefs of the family and community. Some families and communities, particularly in poverty stricken areas, do not value or understand formal education. This leads to students who are unprepared for the school environment.

Poverty is a major threat to the existence of humanity in modern times especially in the developing world. Education in every sense is one of the fundamental factors of achieving sustainable economic development through investment in human capital. Education fosters self understanding, improves quality of lives and raises people's productivity and creativity thus promoting entrepreneurship and technological advances. In addition it plays very crucial roles in securing economic and social progress thus improving income distribution which may consequently salvage the people from poverty. The poor are not a single group with only a single problem of lack of money but poverty has many dimensions shortened lives, illiteracy, social exclusion and lack of Materials means to improve family circumstances. Further, these dimensions can overlap in different combinations where for example men view poverty different from women.

Human and income poverty seem to go hand in hand. For example, some small farm households can maintain reasonable incomes until their lack of effective access to health Services, because of long distances, bad roads or through local services deficiencies leaves them ill and vulnerable. For others, coping with the loss of expected farm income as a result of drought or flood and trying to find alternative crops to plant or additional sources of livelihood is their highest priority. Poverty may be seasonal in rural areas; lean periods and low income availability coincide with period of endemic disease. Seasonal rains destroy rural roads and physically isolate the rural poor from markets and essential services. Among the urban poor, times of economic hardship fall at the middle of the month when salaried employees run out of funds. Poverty can sometimes be structural. It systematically excludes a portion of the population from full national and social participation through hunger, inadequate income, powerlessness, poor education and disease. For example, if a parent is poor, the chances of the children becoming non poor are limited. The parent who is poor have no landed property, lacks money to educate the children and usually has a large family that is inadequately provided for.

The consequences of illiteracy and poverty extend beyond economic limitations. Illiterate individuals often face social exclusion, diminished self-esteem, and reduced opportunities for personal growth and empowerment. Moreover, illiteracy restricts access to critical information on health, hygiene, nutrition, and civic participation, making individuals more vulnerable to exploitation, inadequate healthcare, and marginalization within their communities.

Breaking the cycle of illiteracy and poverty requires comprehensive strategies that address both educational and socio-economic factors. Improving access to quality education is paramount, with a focus on early childhood development, functional literacy programs for adults, and educational opportunities for marginalized populations. Efforts should also be directed towards reducing economic inequalities, creating sustainable employment opportunities, and promoting inclusive growth to alleviate poverty and increase social mobility.

Recognizing the intricate relationship between illiteracy and poverty is crucial for developing effective policies and interventions. By prioritizing education, improving access to resources, and promoting inclusive economic development, societies can work towards breaking the cycle of disadvantage, empowering individuals, and creating a more equitable and prosperous future for all.