◄UNIT 5:Personal FinancesUNIT 7: Career Planning►

UNIT 6:Education and Welfare Systems

  • UNIT 6:Education and Welfare Systems

    Key unit competence:To be able to analyse critically how education

    & welfare systems contribute to economic development

    6.1 The concept of education

    Activity 1

    In your groups:

    1. Brainstorm on the concept of education and try to give its definition.
    2. What are the different types of education?
    3. What is meant by welfare and welfare systems?
    The word education is derived from the Latin word ‘educare’, which means ‘to
    bring up’. Education can be defined as the process of imparting knowledge,
    skills, morals, attitudes and values from one person to another.
    Education involves the socialisation of the younger generation through
    continuous efforts to inculcate in them acceptable attitudes, emotional
    control and mental abilities which they may not have acquired naturally or
    on their own.

    There are two types of education: formal and informal education.

    1. Formal education

    Formal education implies any education that is provided by a recognised
    institution, such as a school, following a planned course of study. This begins

    right from kindergarten.

    2. Informal education

    This is a kind of education that is traditional and involves the wise, respectful
    and spontaneous process of imparting knowledge, skills and beliefs through
    conversation, exploration and experience. An example of this education can

    be the traditional learning of household chores in Rwanda.

    6.2 The role of education in economic development

    Activity 2

    Use the pictures provided to explain how formal and informal education

    influences a person’s economic status.

    k

    Economic development can be defined as sustained actions of policy makers
    that lead to an improvement of the standards of living of a particular group
    of people.
    It involves an improvement on aspects such as: human capital, infrastructure,
    regional competitiveness, social inclusion, health, safety, literacy, among
    others. Various roles of education in economic development are explained

    below:

    (i) Education is very significant in the economic development of a given
    society. This is because education reduces poverty and social inequality
    by providing the underprivileged with resources and opportunities for
    upward social mobility and social inclusion. This is because education
    to all people ensures that all regardless of social background have equal
    opportunities in the skilled labour market. It reduces poverty in the sense
    that the more educated an individual is, the greater income he/she is
    likely to have and consequently, the higher the standard of living.
    (ii) An increase in the number of people who acquire knowledge and skills
    means an increase in the number of people who can play a meaningful
    role in society. However, when young people drop out of school, they are
    deprived of such skills. This creates social exclusion at individual and
    societal levels. Such children experience poverty and unemployment.
    They engage in criminal activities such as theft, drug trafficking,
    robbery and burglary due to frustration and poverty. This destroys the
    harmony of the society and derails economic development as policies
    are consequently more focused on curbing crime other than economic

    development.

    (iii) Since the process of education is aimed at producing intellectually and
    technically skilled people, it is then a fact that it is through education
    that the human capital of a country is acquired. Without a productive
    workforce, there would be no economic development. Human capital
    is an integral part of the resources a country needs in order to drive
    economic growth.
    (iv) The more the educated people in an economy, the more the tax base
    through income tax deductions to the government treasury, and the
    more the spending on commodities especially consumables.
    (v) Education enriches the people’s understanding of themselves and the
    world. This improves the quality of people’s lives which leads to social
    benefits both to the individual and society.
    (vi) Educated people are productive and creative. They make good
    entrepreneurs and advance technology. In this way, there is economic
    development arising from education.
    (vii) Education also helps to secure social progress which improves income
    distribution. It empowers people and strengthens nations. It does so by
    equalising all people and by so doing creates a level ground for all to
    maximise their potential, abilities and overcome poverty.
    (viii) Promotion of the advancement of the millennium development goals
    through universal education and gender equality ensures that education
    systems are not discriminative.
    (ix) Education promotes democracy which gives power to the people.
    This is because it enables people to participate in matters of national
    development by being involved in decision making at a national level.
    Educated people are knowledgeable and among other things, they are
    aware of their rights and responsibilities in the society. As such, they
    are able to take part in national activities at the community level and
    determine their living conditions.
    (x) Education increases the overall productivity and intellectual flexibility
    of the labour force. Therefore, it positions the country at a more
    competitive level in the world market, which is characterised by changing
    technologies and production methods.
    (xi) Through social interaction with people from different social or ethnic
    groups, education contributes significantly to nation building and

    interpersonal tolerance.

    Exercise 1

    State the various roles of education in economic development

    6.3 Inclusive education

    Activity 3

    1. What shows inclusive
    keducation in this picture?

    2. Debate on the motion:
    inclusive education
    contributes to good

    performance.

    Education as already discussed is broad and very influential in the economic
    development of a country. The education system of a country should not
    discriminate against any member of the society. All children have a right to
    education. For education to be non-discriminative, it has to be all inclusive.
    Inclusive education means a system of education where all learners
    regardless of social, cultural or economic background or their academic
    ability learn together. It also means that they participate in various activities
    in a conducive environment that recognises and accommodates all their
    differences.
    Inclusive education is about how the classrooms, the school as well as the
    school programmes and activities are designed to enable all students to learn
    together. It is guided by three principles:
    1. All children belong. This is based on the fact that all children and their
    families are valued equally and deserve equal opportunities. It focuses on
    building friendship and membership.
    2. Learners have different learning abilities. Inclusive education provides
    for ways of helping those learners with special needs. Therefore, help
    from friends and teachers is of great essence in the learning process.
    Relevant materials such as technological aid can be of help in serving the
    needs of all learners. Where possible, children with special needs should
    learn together with the other students of their own age in order to access
    education of the same quality.
    3. Education is a child right not a privilege: All children have right to
    education.
    Inclusive education is important and has the following benefits:
    • All the people involved in the learning process are able to develop
    individual talents and maximise their abilities in a free environment.
    • It is easier for all to achieve their goals when the environment is favourable.
    • An inclusive education facilitates proper interaction of all and this
    contributes to better interpersonal skills.
    • It also fosters a culture of respect and belonging. People are able to accept
    and respect individual differences and this reduces disrespect that leads
    to harassment and bullying.
    • Inclusive education also expands friendship among learners and
    facilitators of various levels.
    • It also influences both the school and community to appreciate diversity
    and inclusion a broader level.

    An inclusive education enhances social cohesion whereby people live
    together harmoniously. Within a society, people coexist in the sense that
    those that are disadvantaged in one way or another need the others to help
    them stabilise and that is why there is need for welfare systems if economic

    development is to take place.

    Exercise 2

    Discuss why learners with disabilities should study together with learners

    without disabilities.

    Activity 4

    (i) Discuss in groups the various ways in which community members
    can offer financial support to a widow.
    (ii) Have one student pretend to be in need. Role play a fundraising
    event where the rest of the learners are helping him/her out. Let

    one student act as the master of ceremony.

    6.4 Types of welfare systems

    A welfare system is the material and moral support aimed at promoting the
    wellbeing of those in need. In most developed countries, welfare is mostly
    done by the government from its revenues. To a lesser extent charities,
    informal social groups, religious groups, and other inter-governmental
    organisations also help in welfare.
    Welfare systems generally aim at providing services like universal healthcare
    and unemployment insurance. Some countries run conditional cash transfer
    welfare programmes where payment depends on the behaviour of the
    recipients.

    In Rwanda, there are two welfare systems: social security and insurance.

    1. Social security

    The Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) administers social security in the
    country. It takes care of such social security aspects as pension, occupational
    risks and health insurance. The following are examples of social security in
    Rwanda:
    a. La Rwandaise d’Assurance Maladie (RAMA) – This offers social security
    to government employees.
    b. Universal Health Insurance (Mutuelles de Santé)- This provides universal
    health insurance coverage(Mutuelles de Santé) to all Rwandans. It is
    offered through the Ministry of Health.
    c. Ubudehe programme – This provides support to the Rwandans living
    below the poverty line.
    d. Girinka programme – This involves giving a cow for every poor family.
    e. Umurenge VUP – This is a fund for the for the most vulnerable and

    extreme poor in Rwanda.

    2. Insurance

    a. RSSB Medical scheme – This offers medical insurance to all government
    employees and employees from some private organisations.
    b. Military Medical Insurance (MMI) – This offers medical insurance to
    employees in the military.
    c. Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) – This offers medical
    insurance to all Rwandans.
    d. Insurance from private insurers – These offer various covers and
    policies such as the following:
    • Education policy – caters for education of all members
    • Accidents and losses – covers members against accidents and
    losses
    • Motor vehicles cover – covers insured vehicles and their users
    • Health cover – covers medical bills of the insured
    • Property cover – covers business and private premises, equipment

    and other installations

    • Agriculture cover – covers livestock and crops

    Exercise 3

    Describe the different welfare systems in your district.

    6.5 The importance of welfare systems in economic development

    Activity 5

    In your groups, discuss the following question:
    Do welfare systems help in improving the economy of a country? Explain
    your answer.
    The following are ways in which welfare systems contribute to economic
    development.
    1. Welfare systems support education, which is an important aspect of
    economic development. Welfare systems strive to reduce the gap between
    the rich and the poor. This lays the basis for a sustained economic
    development.
    2. Some welfare systems also focus on matters of health. Social effort is
    made to ensure that all people can afford health care. This helps to create
    a healthy labour force, which is the backbone of economic development.
    In this way, it increases the life expectancy of the labour force in an
    economy.
    3. All aspects of social security, for example, health insurance, housing
    assistance and others, provide the members of the society with enough
    to spend. This contributes to economic growth in the long run. When
    people have money to spend, the production of goods and service
    delivery is improved. This cash flow from individuals to the government
    increases the revenue of the economy.
    4. The gender balance that is practised in some welfare systems helps to
    create a level ground for women to join the workforce. It also undertakes
    to empower children through early childhood training. This helps to build
    a much more constructive and productive society.
    It can be concluded therefore that welfare systems are not only beneficial to

    the individual but also to the entire economic system.

    Exercise 4

    Explain the role of welfare in economic development by focusing on

    either health or education.

    6.6 Challenges facing education for all

    Activity 6

    Debate on the motion: Education for all may not be realised in all countries
    The concept Education for all (EFA) refers to a commitment by countries
    and government to meet the learning needs of all children, youths and adults
    by 2015. It is spearheaded by UNESCO (The United Nations Educational,
    Scientific and Cultural Organisation.) in partnership with all governments,

    development agencies, civil society and non-governmental organisations.

    These are some of the major challenges facing education for all:

    1. Majority of the donors have neglected to fund EFA goals outside of
    primary education. As a result, pre-primary education and adult literacy
    remain underfunded.
    2. Donors have largely failed on their commitment to deliver aid more
    effectively. Effective international coordination and distribution of aid to
    education have been almost entirely absent.
    3. Low transition rate from primary to secondary school. For example, in
    the Philippines, just 69% of primary school graduates from the poorest
    families continued into lower secondary, compared with 94% from the
    richest households.
    4. Some students drop out of school before they reach their last grade. This
    reduces the government’s effort to make education available for all.
    5. In most countries, there are high levels of illiteracy among adults. This
    makes it hard for parents to support education of their children in such
    activities as helping them in homework.
    6. Child development and child labour reduce opportunities for children
    to attend school. For example, children may be involved in quarrying

    activities or picking tea leaves.

    Exercise 5

    1. Discuss the challenges facing the education sector in Rwanda.

    6.7 Extended work

    In your groups, attempt the following tasks:
    1. Brainstorm on the benefits of education and the challenges of education.
    Write down a poem on your points and recite it aloud as a group.
    2. Define welfare systems. In not more than one month, gather information
    (within and outside school) and write a short report about welfare in your

    society.

    6.8 Unit summary

    Formal education - any education that is provided by a recognised
    institution, such as a school, and which follows a planned course of study.
    Informal education - education that is traditional and involves the wise,
    respectful and spontaneous process of imparting knowledge, skills and
    beliefs through conversation, exploration and experience.
    Inclusive education - a system of education where all learners regardless
    of social, cultural or economic background or their academic ability learn
    together.
    The role of education in economic development
    1. Education reduces poverty and social inequality by providing the
    underprivileged with resources and opportunities for upward social
    mobility and social inclusion.
    2. It increases the number of people who acquire knowledge and skills
    hence an increase in the number of people who can play a meaningful
    role in society.
    3. It produces a productive workforce which contributes to economic
    development.
    4. It broadens a country’s tax base through having more employable
    people hence higher income for the government.
    5. Education enriches the people’s understanding of themselves and the
    world thus improving the quality of people’s lives.
    6. Educated people make good entrepreneurs and help in advancing
    technology thus promoting economic development.
    7. Education also helps to secure social progress which improves income

    distribution.

    Types of welfare systems

    1. Social security

    2. Insurance

    The importance of welfare systems in economic development

    1. They support education which promotes economic development.
    2. They promote good health hence creating a healthy workforce which is
    the backbone of economic development.
    3. They assure social security leading to economic growth.
    4. The offer opportunities for all to grow and support economic growth of
    a country.
    Challenges facing education for all
    1. Low donor funding for pre-primary and adult education.
    2. Low enrolment in early childhood education.
    3. Lack of an effective international coordination and distribution of aid
    to education.
    4. Low transition rate from primary to secondary school.
    5. Some students drop out of school before they reach their last grade.
    6. The lack of an appropriate (and gender-sensitive) curriculum with
    complementary learning materials that focus on the acquisition of key
    competencies (such as literacy and numeracy).
    7. Inadequate attention to child-centred and gender sensitive teaching
    methodology and the use of appropriate teaching and learning

    materials, including books and readers.

    6.9 Test your competence

    1. Analyse the role of education in economic development in Rwanda.
    2. There are different welfare systems in Rwanda. Citing examples,
    explain how these welfare systems contribute to Rwanda’s economic

    development.


    ◄UNIT 5:Personal FinancesUNIT 7: Career Planning►