Giving Compass' Take:

· Jan Lee explains how Pearson is breaking down the barriers to education and providing the necessary skills and resources to children.

· What role can philanthropy play in increasing access to high-quality education? Where could you work to improve access to education? 

· Read about strengthening global education partnerships.

Unicef tells us that 101 million children worldwide don’t regularly attend school. High costs, lack of local availability, lack of uniforms and school supplies, disability and competing family priorities are among the many reasons for this devastating statistic.

Each of those children may grow up without the basic communication, math and reasoning skills that can help them earn a living wage to support their family and build their communities. And so the cycle of poverty continues.

Many students also face barriers to accessing higher education, which has long-term implications on their ability to find good jobs and improve their situation in life. Sixty-five percent of all jobs in the U.S. economy will require postsecondary education and training beyond high school by 2020. At the same time, 40 percent of students in four-year public universities do not complete their courses on time, and many of these do not complete their degree at all.

Low-income students, rural students, first-generation college students, students who don’t speak the area’s most widely used language, people with disabilities, underrepresented minorities and those facing other personal constraints are particularly vulnerable.

Read the full article about improving education by Jan Lee at Triple Pundit.