The Issue
What would life be like without an education? Over a hundred million children learn the answer each year; of these, two thirds are girls. One in four children in developing countries does not complete five years of basic education and there are nearly one billion illiterate adults – one sixth of the world’s people. Now 191 nations have set a goal of free and compulsory education for every child on earth by 2015. To test the reality of this commitment, Back to School travels to schoolrooms worldwide, offering a fascinating glimpse into the lives of very diverse children, all taking their hopeful first steps into an uncertain future.
The Film
Back to School is the second installment of Time for School, the multi-year project launched in 2003 when Wide Angle profiled seven children in seven countries – Afghanistan, Benin, Brazil, India, Japan, Kenya, and Romania – starting their first year of school, often despite great odds. Returning in 2006, we find that some are already hanging onto their enrollment by a thread. Thirteen-year-old Neeraj attends a special night school so she can work during the day, but extended trips to graze the livestock have arrested her progress. In Benin, Nanavi is the first girl from her family to enroll in school, but her father’s death has made it difficult to afford the chalk and supplies. With over 100 million children around the globe out of school, Back to School puts a human face on an issue with profound consequences for global development.
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06/20/2008 :: 08:54:31 AM
Ellen Murray Says:
I think this film was a real eye opener. I always relate what I see happening in other countries to what is happening here, especially with Education. After viewing this film I realize how much our students take their education for granted. Also, it seems that the value of education is being lost here in America perhaps because it is taken for granted. Isn’t it amazing that seven young children can remind us of the priveledges we have and how important it is to recognize them.
I realize it is important to educate children, especially with over 100,000,000 children out of school. However, I have a hard time supporting Gene Sperling’s goal of making America the leader in Global Education because I don’t think we are leaders in our own education. There are too many inequalities here. How can we be bold enough to make the claim that we can solve the problems around the world? Money isn’t all it will take.