In order to understand how education contributes to community development, it is important first to understand what community development is.
Community development focuses on both the social as well as economic aspects of a community as a means of making it more self-sufficient and sustainable so that people have access to better opportunities for their families. Education plays a key role in helping with this goal by providing skill sets and knowledge that enable individuals to develop economically, socially, and personally.
Education is a fundamental right recognized across many countries—the United Nations Education Social and Cultural Rights Convention being just one example of this recognition. Education provides communities with the necessary tools they need for success in life, just as education has already enabled members of those communities to succeed above and beyond expectations. In addition, education is also a human right recognized by the United Nations—the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 26, to be specific. Education is more than simply learning facts or skills. Education provides individuals with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their lives; empowering them and giving them the tools necessary to take care of themselves and succeed in life.
Education contributes to the achievement of all these goals within a community while also contributing to individual economic growth and social stability. Education reduces poverty by providing knowledge and skills that enable people to earn more money; it generates income thru increased productivity, participation in the labor force, and entrepreneurship.
Education reduces child mortality rates by improving health decisions made by parents who are educated—as well as reducing birth rates among uneducated individuals or those living in areas with low levels of education. Education increases the likelihood of children staying in school which decreases child labor.
Education decreases environmental degradation by teaching people about sustainable practices such as recycling and conservation; reducing poverty which is one of the biggest causes of global deforestation; and by providing people with tools to avoid overexploiting natural resources such as forests for shelter or fuel. Education creates a better, more interconnected world that works together towards common goals rather than working against each other which leads to an increase in global partnerships that further enhance community development.
All these benefits lead back to education—education provides communities with the skills they need to be successful while also enabling individuals to succeed economically and personally. Education is an essential tool for community development.