Our Focus

The importance of education

In most developing countries, it is only through government-subsidised education that families are able to educate their children up to the Australian equivalent of year 8 or 9 ('the government-subsidised level'). After the early years of high school, fees rise substantially and government subsidies become a smaller proportion of the total. In some cases government subsidies cease in early years of high school and families with limited financial resources cannot afford to continue to send their children to school.

Education is fundamental to the success of communities. Today’s students and children are Africa’s hope for tomorrow. To take Kenya as an example, only 24 per cent of all students can afford to continue their secondary high school education. A mere 2 per cent go on to study at the tertiary level.

Education is even more important in developing economies, since education opens developmental pathways in the local and global environment, where the poor and uneducated are being left behind. Education is about exposing a student to a world of opportunities, and equipping them with the skills to recognise, utilise and capitalise upon the opportunities around them. The aim of the 38degrees Program is to provide access to good education for the disadvantaged.