Alleviating Poverty in Malta: Changing Minds through Education

Abstract

Education plays an important role in minimizing the risk of a person falling into poverty. Studies have shown that persons who pursue an education to post-secondary and tertiary level are considered to be less at risk of poverty. Studies also show that the impact of education and the risk of poverty may also be generational. Individuals born in families with a lower educational level are more likely to be at risk of poverty. Research has shown that children who experience poverty very early in life may tend to have issues with achieving a complete education. This may have a ripple effect since education effects employability; that, in turn, plays an important role to address the importance of improving the financial capability of the individual and his family. This research aims to indicate strategies that may be drawn up in order to address the important role of education in eradicating poverty. A holistic approach which offers the right content, structure, and facilities is important in order to guarantee a sound basis on which more educational building blocks may be built by the individual during the educational path that the person decides to follow. Changing minds of professionals involved in planning and devising educational reforms and strategies, together with providing the most adequate support for inclusive education, key skills tutoring, and mentoring, will ensure more success stories. All these strategies will concurrently help in different ways to address the issue of financial capability of an individual and his family, and thus alleviate poverty.