Faced with an environment full of challenges, education is more than important for future generations of Bolivian students and professionals. However, for students to flourish and develop their maximum potential, it is necessary that they have vital environments and resources that guarantee their health, well-being and learning, avoiding the dilemma of choosing between their education or access to water.
This Student Day it is important to reflect on the dilemma that thousands of Bolivian students are experiencing in their struggle to access a decent education, while they face difficulties in accessing water, sanitation and basic services for their development. In this blog, we will address this situation and how to face the challenge to improve both education and access to water for Bolivian youth.
Bolivian inequality, education or access to water
Over the last decade, Bolivia has suffered severe droughts, mainly affecting the economically weaker strata, which are found in rural areas and especially young students. The great drought occurred between 2015 and 2016, harming 177,431 families in rural municipalities (UNICEF & VIDECI, 2017). Today 600 thousand Bolivian children and adolescents live in areas at high risk of suffering droughts. On the other hand, access to quality education in Bolivia has also degraded, as it is only available to a few. It is more likely that those who belong to medium-high socioeconomic levels and who live in urban areas can acquire this type of education, but this is precisely the situation that needs to be reversed, since access to education and quality water are fundamental rights. for all young people and children.
Educational situation in Bolivia
Bolivia made efforts to make access to education in the country universal. In 2001, the population from 6 to 19 years old registered a school attendance rate of 79.7%, which increased 7.5 percentage points by 2012. In said period, the rural schooling rate in the group from 6 to 11 years old increased from 89.2% to 95% , and from 60% to 75.1% for the group of 12 to 19 (INE, 2012). Thanks to the educational investment of the State, a net primary coverage rate of 95% was achieved (AECID, 2017) and by 2022 a coverage of 97.3% will be achieved (INE, 2022).
Bolivia has made progress in access to education, but still faces challenges in terms of quality and equity. The lack of resources, precarious infrastructure and insufficient teacher training contribute to an education that does not always meet the needs of students. This creates an additional challenge as students have to choose between education or access to water.
Water situation in Bolivia
Significant progress has been seen in access to improved water sources. However, a disparity persists between urban and rural areas. In urban areas, coverage reached 94.3% of the population, while in rural areas it was 67.5% for 2018 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2019). However, these advances could be reversed in a climate context if there is no sustainable management of the resource. This same effect could occur due to the increase in consumption demands that reduce water availability.
Why is water so important for students?
Climate change has a significant impact on the education of young people, since its consequences on the family economy often lead them to take on burdens and, in some cases, to join the world of work. This results in less time available for study, which can lead to dropout.
The lack of access to drinking water is a worrying reality in many Bolivian communities. Hundreds of thousands of Bolivian children face the difficult task of balancing their school responsibilities with the daily search for water for their consumption and basic needs. The long journeys to get water and the unsanitary conditions in which water is often found compromise their health and their ability to concentrate on learning.
Towards a Comprehensive Solution
UNESCO recognizes education as a fundamental factor in the battle against climate change, so improving its education system must be one of its main areas of action in the short term. For this, it is necessary to comprehensively address the problem of access to water and education, investing in infrastructure, educational resources, programs and strengthening public-private alliances.
On this Student Day, while we celebrate the potential and dedication of Bolivian youth, we also recognize the difficult crossroads that many of them face, but above all we get to work to change this panorama. Your donation in Water For People It is a viable way to contribute directly to this transformation, supporting our water access initiatives to generate a world where choosing between a book and a bucket of water is no longer a reality in Bolivia and Latin America.