Abstract
The importance of education to enable economic development has been widely
debated in various spheres, with emphasis on studies by supranational organisations that
advocate how fundamental education has become critical to escape poverty. In a post-health
crisis world, in which poverty levels have deteriorated even more, drastically affecting the most
vulnerable populations, particularly in poor or less developed economies, it is essential to
understand the role played by education, especially primary education, in terms of its contribution
to alleviating indicators that contribute to feeding the vicious circle of poverty and its exclusion
implications. Significant difficulties in increasing education levels, perceived mainly in rural areas
of difficult access and far from the interests of political objectives and private investments,
constitute an additional barrier both in relation to the improvement of the lives of its inhabitants,
as well as in the achievement of sustainability goals, making the sustainable economic
development agenda even more challenging. In this context, this paper analyses one of these
regions, the city of Turmalina, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Turmalina is placed in a region
where scarcity shows its true colours, and the consequences of the distancing between
discussions whose background is the search for sustainability and the local reality, with more
elementary needs, are more than evident. The complex discussions that seek regulatory solutions
for environmental changes are unknown there, proving that the urgency of subsistence is always
dominant in the face of the difficulty of supplying the essentials for survival. Holistically, the
importance of education can be seen as a gateway to freedom, be it intellectual, social or
financial, a fact that is borne out by the finding that humans have evolved from ancient times to
modern civilisation as we know it, scaling the ladder of experience, knowledge and wisdom.
Because it is a powerful resource for humanity that provides knowledge, information and skills,
education nowadays also provides us with a broader understanding of our reality and,
consequently, can help us create a better ecosystem in a society more inclusive and egalitarian.
debated in various spheres, with emphasis on studies by supranational organisations that
advocate how fundamental education has become critical to escape poverty. In a post-health
crisis world, in which poverty levels have deteriorated even more, drastically affecting the most
vulnerable populations, particularly in poor or less developed economies, it is essential to
understand the role played by education, especially primary education, in terms of its contribution
to alleviating indicators that contribute to feeding the vicious circle of poverty and its exclusion
implications. Significant difficulties in increasing education levels, perceived mainly in rural areas
of difficult access and far from the interests of political objectives and private investments,
constitute an additional barrier both in relation to the improvement of the lives of its inhabitants,
as well as in the achievement of sustainability goals, making the sustainable economic
development agenda even more challenging. In this context, this paper analyses one of these
regions, the city of Turmalina, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Turmalina is placed in a region
where scarcity shows its true colours, and the consequences of the distancing between
discussions whose background is the search for sustainability and the local reality, with more
elementary needs, are more than evident. The complex discussions that seek regulatory solutions
for environmental changes are unknown there, proving that the urgency of subsistence is always
dominant in the face of the difficulty of supplying the essentials for survival. Holistically, the
importance of education can be seen as a gateway to freedom, be it intellectual, social or
financial, a fact that is borne out by the finding that humans have evolved from ancient times to
modern civilisation as we know it, scaling the ladder of experience, knowledge and wisdom.
Because it is a powerful resource for humanity that provides knowledge, information and skills,
education nowadays also provides us with a broader understanding of our reality and,
consequently, can help us create a better ecosystem in a society more inclusive and egalitarian.
| Original language | English (Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | EL@RA CONFERENCE |
| Subtitle of host publication | Technologies and Techniques to Support Sustainable Education in the Academic Sphere |
| Publisher | EUT+ |
| Pages | 71 |
| Number of pages | 100 |
| Publication status | Published - 14 Dec 2022 |
Keywords
- Primary Education
- Economic Development
- Inequality
- Sustainability
- Poverty
- Inclusion
