Human Wellbeing pt. 2

Question 1

Trends in Education

Answer 1

Education provides much more than the opportunity to read, write and count. It provides individuals with opportunities.

Question 2

Literacy rates

Answer 2

Difficult to calculate as many countries do not keep accurate data. It is important to be aware of potential variations in literacy within countries

Question 3

Literacy rates examples

Answer 3

In many countries, people in rural areas have lower literacy levels than those in the city

Girls are not given the same educational opportunities as boys

Question 4

Barriers to successful education

Answer 4

access to education varies widely across the globe

Question 5

Barriers to successful education examples

Answer 5

• In developed countries (Australia, Britain, Germany and France) about 99% of all school-aged children are enrolled in schools
• In developing countries (Mali, Ethiopia and Niger) only 90% of all school-aged children are enrolled in schools.
• School enrolment rats have gone up in the past decade.
• 61 million children of primary school age are not receiving an education (more than half are from Sub-Saharan Africa and 1/5 are in South Asia)

Question 6

Factors that determine whether or not a child will attend school

Answer 6

• System barriers
• Attendance barriers
• Social barriers

Question 7

System Barriers

Answer 7

lack of trained teachers, classrooms, 
educational materials (books)

Question 8

Attendance barriers

Answer 8

• school fees,
• distance to school,
• poor transport networks,
• concern of many parents about the safety of their children,
• many children are working to support their families

Question 9

Social barriers

Answer 9

• variation in language,
• religion,
• conflict within countries (conflict is one of the greatest barriers with children in war-torn nations such as Somalia and Syria much less likely to attend school)

Question 10

Case Study: Syria

Answer 10

Due to war between rebels and the government in 2011 a lot of damage was done to the infrastructure of the country including hospitals, roads, electricity, communication networks and factories. Food production fell dramatically, and, in some areas, clean water supplies were reduced to one-third of their pre-war levels. All of these factors have resulted in enormous falls in wellbeing.

Question 11

Why wellbeing varies

Answer 11

Environmental
Social
Economic
Historic
Political 

ESEHP

Question 12

Environmental Causes

Answer 12

Suitability of the land for agriculture, the climate and whether there are any natural resources present in the landscape.

In some places, good growing conditions ensure that food is plentiful and minerals in the ground bring wealth and industry. In other places, poor soils or unreliable rainfall are the key factors that limit people’s wellbeing.

Question 13

Human factors (social, economic, historic and political causes are all examples of human factors)

Answer 13

• Population size
• Cultural norms
• Laws and rules regulating business and trade
• Historical events
• Political systems
• Wars

Question 14

Environmental Causes

Answer 14

• Climate
• Land quality and availability of fresh water
• Natural resources
• Relative location

Question 15

Social Causes

Answer 15

• Population size and growth

- Cultural norms such as gender roles

Question 16

Economic Causes

Answer 16

• Trade laws

- Access to trade routes

Question 17

Historic Causes

Answer 17

• Colonial past

- Past conflicts

Question 18

Political Causes

Answer 18

• Political stability
• Level of corruption
• Wars and civil conflict

Question 19

Case Study: 2 Koreas

Answer 19

• South Korea
• Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)

As they both are located in the same area, the difference in resources cannot explain the large differences in wellbeing. The main differences are due to how the governments are run and how their resources are managed.

South Korea also has relatively low levels of corruption and a free media, this has led to a stronger economy with high exports and imports, is highly industrialised with large urban population and is technologically advanced.

North Korea is a totalitarian state, meaning there is only one politically party and no elections. They have placed a great emphasis on having a strong military and they use up to 1/3 of the country’s budget. North Korea has very high levels of corruption and no freedom of press

Question 20

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Answer 20

Meeting of the United Nations in 2000

193 countries agreed set a goal designed to end poverty and improve wellbeing across the globe by 2015.

Progress was made in reducing the number of Africans living on less than $1.25 a day but more than 1/3 of the world’s extreme poor still live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Question 21

Sustainable Development Goals

Answer 21

17 SDGs have 169 targets

Aim to address the root causes of poverty and need for development that works for all countries.

The goals cover the three dimensions of sustainable development:

• economic growth,
• social inclusion and environmental protection.

The global goals aim to address

• inequalities,
• economic growth,
• decent jobs,
• cities and human settlements, - industrialisation,
• oceans,
• ecosystems,
• energy,
• climate change,
• sustainable consumption and production,
• peace and justice.

Question 22

8 Goals

Answer 22

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

Goal 5: Improve maternal health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development