Barriers to school
Schools exist all over the world, but not every child gets the chance to go to school. These are some of the reasons why:
Poverty
There may be a fee charged for attending school which is too expensive for many parents. They may need their children to work instead, to contribute to the family income. Parents may also have to pay for school uniform and equipment, which can be very expensive.
HIV/AIDS
The prevalence of HIV and AIDS particularly in Sub Saharan Africa is affecting children both at home and at school. It is reducing the numbers of experienced teachers and forcing children to drop out of school to care for sick family members.
School provision
In some places there may not be enough school places for all children, or enough teachers to teach them. There may not be a school near enough to attend.
School drop-out
In some areas there are high drop-out rates from primary school, after pupils have enrolled. Parents may feel like their children are not learning anything useful at school, or children may be unhappy.
Local traditions
In some countries, families place more emphasis on the education of boys, and may not believe it is important to send their daughters to school. Girls may also be forced to marry young, drop out of school, and dedicate themselves to housework.