The True Cost of Poverty and Corruption on Education System in Developing Nations
Authors-Srishti Prasad, Farjana Akhter, Tarunika B, Christopher.S.Rekwot , P. Harshitha
Abstract
The paper looks into the intricate relationship between poverty and corruption in the education system, showing how corrupt practices in the sector deter access to quality education and sustain unequal opportunities. Reaching comfortably beyond academia, the book examines, with the help of the most insightful scholarship, as well as case studies, how corruption most negatively impacts vulnerable communities; it is a root cause of inequality that restricts social mobility and economic empowerment. Discussion The discussion highlights the need for transparency, accountability, and strategic investments in education to disrupt this cycle. Societies must take action to empower stakeholders and promote meaningful reform, to restore the promise of education as a path out of poverty and to promote more equitable and sustainable development.
1. Introduction
What happens to a nation’s future when its children are denied the basic right to quality education? According to Senator Bernie Sanders, “Education should be a right not a privilege”. Education is considered to be one among the fundamental aspects of human development. It can make a better human being by improving one’s abilities, skills, knowledge, choices and decisions. It can also help one to live a healthy life, to have access to resources needed to maintain a decent standard of living, and to participate in the society. Education can also contribute to other aspects of human development, such as environmental sustainability, gender equality, human rights, and peace. Therefore, education is not only a human right, but also a human development.
The Sustainable Development Goal 4 aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” Are all children across the globe able to access quality education today? The promise of better-quality education for all remains unfulfilled due to the twin evils namely Poverty and Corruption. According to UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report 2024, approximately 251 million children and youth aged 6 to 18 are still out of school globally with only 1% decrease in nearly a decade. The report highlights chronic under-investment especially in low-income countries and also emphasised that education should be a global priority. (Azoulay, 2024) In various developing countries, only a small percentage of children complete their primary school and even fewer children complete secondary school. The reasons behind it include difficulty to reach schools as well as the cost of schooling. This is seen as a crisis in many developing countries. Children being denied the right to education due to poverty are also being denied various opportunities, such as being employed, supporting their families and contributing to the development of their communities. (Nortje, 2017)
It had been well said by Peter Eigen that Corruption is a major cause of poverty as well as a barrier to overcoming it. The two scourges feed off each other, locking their populations in a cycle of misery. Corruption must be vigorously addressed if aid is to make a real difference in freeing people from poverty. Nicole Duerrenberger confirmed that Corruption negatively correlates with the expected years of schooling using data from 88 developing countries. (Duerrenberger & Sussanne Warning, 2018)
2. Understanding Poverty and Corruption in Context of Education
Comprehending the rich nexus between Poverty & Corruption with respect of education and without knowledge is vicious circle which reinforces inequality and impede development. When corruption infiltrates education—whether through money paid for admissions or stolen school funds—it weakens the very quality and access of education, particularly for the poor. Transparency International reveals how corruption negates the quality of education with effects that include larger class sizes, teachers not being paid properly, lack of learning materials that hurts the less advantaged child12. And when educational resources are siphoned away, or access sold to the highest bidder, the promise of education as an escape from poverty is broken.
Academic work tends to suggest that it is not just the case that corruption exacerbates poverty, but that it is driven by poverty. Publications like those of Gupta et al. (2002) and Tebaldi and Mohan (2010) show that higher levels of corruption accentuate income inequalities and reduce the opportunity of the poor to invest in education3. Poor families, from countries with high rates of poverty, may also be compelled to make “under-the-counter” payments for schooling “free” at the point of entry (as in Bangladesh, where more than a third of all students paid unofficial fees to gain access to schooling2). This is a particular feedback loop: poverty leads to susceptibility to corruption which leads to (made worse by) poverty which leads to vulnerability to corruption, and so on.
Such a vicious circle cannot be reversed by policy changes alone but by a society-wide orientation towards transparency, accountability, and investment in education. Supporting evidence of this finding is evident from that Fomicová and Ortega (2017) found poverty and reduction in education and corruption to be negatively related.4 In comparison with countries that have lower education investment and less control over corruption, Castro (2019) argued that there is greater reduction in poverty in countries that have educational investment and active control over corruption. When we empower communities to demand better governance and ensure children receive the learning and health resources that those with more advantages already enjoy, we foster a fairer and more prosperous society
3. Poverty as a Barrier to Educational Access
At present, there are lots of developing countries where poverty stands as one of the most significant barriers to quality education. The consciousness is profound, reinforcing a cycle of inequality and hindering economic development.
3.1 Financial Barriers:
For low-income families it is very challenging to afford the basic costs of education. Many governments offer free primary education but for studying students need other support that they can’t get or afford. Because of that they aren’t able to attend or enroll in the classes. According to a UNESCO report (2023), around 258 million children were out of school due to financial barriers. Rumi is a 10 year old boy, who left his school for money. Sajal is a teen who has never gone to school. Like them, there are thousands of children and youth who are not able to pursue their education. As a result students often withdraw from school.
3.2 Malnutrition:
In developing countries people are not aware of proper nutrition. Even if they are, they don’t have any opportunity to take proper nutrition due to lack of money. The Global Nutrition Report (2022) states that 1 in 3 children under the age of five is stunted or underweight due to malnutrition. Poor nutrition affects concentration, memory, and school performance. As a result, they are not able to attend classes and can’t continue their studies. Poor students can’t focus on their studies and suffer from inadequate infrastructure. They also don’t have trained teachers and sufficient learning tools.
3.3 Child labor and early marriage:
Because of poverty children are deprived of school and join child labor. They have to work for a living. UNICEF reported in 2023 that 160 million children worldwide are engaged in child labor and most of them were involved with hazard work. In my village there is a boy named Jisan who left school and worked in a tea stall to help his family. Sometimes families think girls are a burden, so they get married at an early age. According to UNFPA, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 every year, which ends their future potential.
3.4 Limited Access to Higher Education:
Many governments make primary education free but higher studies require money. A World Bank study (2022) found that students from the wealthiest 20% of households are five times more likely to complete higher education than those from the poorest 20%. A lot of students aren’t able to pursue higher studies, which deprives the nation of its potential.
4. Corruption in Education Sector
Corruption in the education industry is a silent murderer stealing the generations of today, tomorrow and future for their right to learn and prosper. In cities and rural villages all over the world, education’s promise is routinely undermined by bribery, favouritism and mismanagement. According to Transparency International, a not-for-profit organization, some communities are shaken down by unscrupulous officials and still have to pay dire fees to cover the cost of supposed free schooling, as is the case in Bangladesh, where more than a third of students paid fees like these to attend classes. These are the hidden costs that make schools secret places of which there are only a certain number of spaces and from which you are excluded if you cannot afford the stakes of corruption. The ramifications of this injustice are far-reaching.
Banerjee, Mullainathan, and Hanna (2012) suggest that in an environment where bribes determine who gets ahead instead of talent, the most gifted pupils are frequently overlooked. Students in the Philippines, for instance, were forced to share one book among eight because of widespread corruption in the procurement of textbooks, affecting their ability to learn and compete. Such practices build on themselves, wherein a low-quality education becomes no opportunity, no opportunity leads to more corruption, and even more inequality.
However, the war of corruption on education is not a lost cause. Communities and reformers in the United States and around the globe are lifting up these dark corners, seeking transparency and accountability. By giving students, teachers and parents a voice, and by enforcing strong accountability, societies can take the first steps toward redeeming the highest promise of education: an equal opportunity for every child to realize his or her full potential. The battle may be difficult, but the prize — a fairer, more enlightened and wealthier society — is worth every ounce of effort.
5. Consequences Of Quality Education
If all children in low income countries left school able to read, global poverty would fall by 12 %.If all adults completed secondary education, 420 million people could be lifted out of poverty, reducing the total number of poor people by more than half worldwide. An extra year of school can increase men’s income by at least 10 %, women’s income by at least 20 %.Quality education can prevent preventable diseases and improve treatment uptake. A child under the age of five is twice as likely to survive if his or her mother can read and write (UN, 2011). Quality education reduces malnutrition. At school, children are introduced to good hygiene and nutrition practices. In many developing countries, however, the quality of education continues to be compromised by deep-rooted challenges like poverty and corruption. These barriers don’t just affect test scores they ripple out into students’ future economic opportunities and even national development. The World Bank (2023) reports a staggering statistic: over 70% of 10-year-olds in low-income countries cannot read and understand a basic story, a phenomenon termed “learning poverty.” Without quality education, the cycle of disadvantage continues, making sustainable development harder to achieve.
5.1 Impact on Learning and Skill Building
Despite several changes within education policies, LDC’s still struggles to meet the global skill demand. Youth lacks employability skills.According to the Indian Skills Report, 2023, only 50.3% of young people were highly employable in India.52.8% of the women and 47.2% of the men were highly employable.89% of the graduates were seeking internship opportunities.All this highlights the importance of quality education. Because our youth needs to build the essential skills in this highly skill-driven world.
5.2 The Link Between Education, Poverty, and Inequality
When education systems fail, the effects spill over into household economics. In nations like Bangladesh, families often have to pay informal fees or bribes just to get their children into public schools’ institutions that are supposed to be free (Transparency International, 2021). The World Bank (2020) found that 44% of households in sub–Saharan Africa admitted to paying unofficial fees. For families already living hand to mouth, these costs can be crippling, reinforcing a pattern where education becomes a privilege rather than a right, and inequality becomes entrenched.
5.3 The Talent Drain: When Hope Looks Elsewhere
A failing education system doesn’t just hurt those currently in school it pushes away the very people who could help fix it. Many young graduates from developing nations look abroad for better opportunities, leading to what’s commonly called “brain drain.” Data from the Global Knowledge Partnership indicates that over 30% of graduates from Nigeria, Kenya, and Pakistan seek employment in developed countries, often citing corruption and lack of fair hiring at home. This ongoing migration means these countries lose out on the very minds that could lead reform and innovation, perpetuating a vicious cycle of lost potential.
5.4 What the Data Shows?
Visual evidence further underscores the crisis. The Corruption Perceptions Index (2021) paints a bleak picture: many nations in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia are marked in red signifying widespread corruption. Alongside that, survey results from countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Afghanistan reveal that citizens frequently pay bribes for educational services and hold a deep mistrust of public education. These visuals are more than just statistics they represent real barriers faced by millions of families trying to educate their children against the odds.
5.5 Key pillars of Quality Education:
Well-trained teachers are critical. Continuous professional development and upskilling programmes help educators adapt to modern teaching needs. In case of Finland’s globally recognised education system prioritises teacher training, with teachers required to hold master’s degrees. Technology bridges learning gaps. AI-powered tools such as chatbots, interactive platforms, and online libraries empower students to learn independently for example The use of AI tutors in Singapore schools enhances personalised learning experiences.
Creating safe spaces ensures students feel valued and supported. This includes addressing biases and ensuring equal opportunities for learners to succeed for example Denmark promotes inclusive learning policies that reduce dropout rates among marginalised students.
Therefore, Quality education isn’t just about improving lives it’s about transforming societies. In developing countries, the lack of it shapes everything from income levels to gender equity and political stability. Tackling this challenge means confronting the root causes: corruption, underinvestment in teachers, and inequitable resource distribution. Governments, international agencies, and grassroots organizations must work together to ensure transparency, accountability, and meaningful learning outcomes. Only by shifting the focus from mere access to genuine quality can education become the powerful equalizer it’s meant to be.
6. Policy Recommendations and Way forward
Poverty and Corruption have become major challenge that has become a widespread infection across developing countries.
It is also recommended that, government at all strategic levels should put measures the aspect of equal distribution of funds to the education sector. A high percentage of revenue should be invested in education sector
Policies and interventions should focus on enhancing equal access to education for all regardless of socioeconomic status; gender, ethnicity or geographical location.
Access to library facilities should be made readily available for all, this could enhance a potential future leaders, doctors, agronomies and experts.
There should be polices put in place in order to maintain the quality of improving the academics across developing countries. Auditing, monitoring and evaluation should be on check in every academic sessions
Increase investment in education. Students should have access to funding such as scholarships, this will enhance the education sector to grow. In this way poverty and corruption will reduce especially in the developing country.
Strengthening of anti corruption governance is significant. This enhance transparency and accountability which could manage educational resources.
Enhancing of teacher motivation and accountability will enhance professionalism through proper training.
There should be a partnership and stakeholders engagement. This institute the availability of collaboration of government agencies, civil society, and organizations is significant in combating poverty and corruption.
The advancement of education is essential for the progress of individuals and communities, regardless of available resources (Khasanova, Nikadambaeva, & Kenjaboev, 2021). Education promotes social mobility and equal opportunities in Nigeria, leading governments worldwide to prioritize its accessibility, equity, and quality (Patel, 2019).
In response to the increasing demand for education, the government has initiated measures to enhance access and quality education, encouraging participation from private entities. Despite these efforts, the goals of achieving access, equity, quality, and quantity in education have not achieved the expected outcomes (Deeken, Mukhopadhyay, & Jiang, 2020).
7. Conclusion
In sum, the recurrent interaction of poverty and corruption in the education field is a major obstacle to societal advance and egalitarian social development. As is the case with academic research and in real-world contexts, corruption siphons off precious resources from those who most desperately depend upon them and reduces trust in educational systems as well as perpetuating patterns of disadvantage. The most vulnerable – the children from poor families are the worst sufferers as they see their dreams of a better future being marred with illegal exactions and systemic failures. This poverty-corruption-poverty cycle is a downward spiral: inadequate education opportunities stunt future options, perpetuating the circumstances that permit corruption.
But there remains some hope that a way can be found. The response would need to be broad and to include reform of the policy; significantly more investment in education; and strong transparency and accountability mechanisms. Community involvement and empowerment are no less important, however, making sure that the voices of students, parents and teachers inform and drive the process. Societies can break the cycle of corruption and poverty and unleash the transformative power of education that promotes not only self-improvement but also social and economic development. In the end, paramount to a more just and equitable world is returning integrity to education.
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