Global Education – success story?
From 1820 to 2020, the access to at least basic global education has been a story of success. If you were to travel back in time to 1820, you would find a world where only a tiny fraction of children could read, write, or even set foot in a classroom. Education was a privilege reserved largely for the wealthy, and classrooms were more likely to be draughty parish halls than the vibrant learning hubs we see in many countries today.
Fast forward to 2020 and global education is utterly transformed. Today, basic education is not just a luxury but an expectation across the world. Millions of children file into schools each morning. Governments, educational charities and communities collaborate to make sure as many young minds as possible get a chance to shine. From bustling cities to remote rural villages, classrooms come in all shapes and sizes. Some boast interactive whiteboards, others use the shade of ancient trees, but all are united in the goal of learning.
How we improved
I think that the numbers tell an uplifting story. In 1820, only about 1 in 10 people were literate. By 2020, that number had soared to over 8 in 10 globally. This is a considerable leap forward, even if not everything is perfect. We can observe the spread of compulsory schooling, the rise of women’s education and the embrace of inclusive practices for children with special needs – here the UK is one of the leading countries in the world.
Of course, there are still many challenges. Some children still walk miles each day to reach their school, and not every classroom is well-equipped. Ongoing conflicts, poverty, and social inequalities still keep pupils away. But the overall trajectory is clear: access to education has become a global movement, and each decade brings new innovation, hope, and determination. Surely, this is a great example of progress.
There is a saying that “Education is the passport to the future”. The last 200 years have provided many youngsters with this passport.
Visualised data
The graphic below shows the rise in access to basic education from 1820 to 2020. For further reading, go to https://ourworldindata.org/global-education#:~:text=In%20many%20of%20the%20world’s,age%20are%20not%20in%20school
