Contributing to Kenya’s Economic Growth & Social Development

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Contributing to Kenya’s Economic Growth & Social Development

Education has always been considered a crucial factor for the economic growth and social development of a country. The United Nations recently affirmed access to schooling as a pertinent aspect of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which are expected to come to fruition in 2020. Interestingly enough, these goals complement the Kenyan government’s current objectives, which are centered on achieving economic growth by 2030. However, since the youth constitute the largest percentage of the country’s 40 million strong population, such objectives will not be achieved in due time without a focus on ensuring the availability of literacy opportunities for the youth. I believe that education can enhance these aims due to the impact is has on the nation’s economic growth and social development.

Firstly, education’s impact on economic growth is based on its effect on human capital. In this context, human capital refers to the potential talent that can be exploited by an economy. As a student, I believe that my education will enable me to contribute more to the Kenyan economy as it will equip me with enhanced skills and aptitudes. With the knowledge that I will attain from my education, I will be able to function in a more significant capacity and engage in productive work. As a result, my skills will provide organizations with a higher level of yield and efficiency. Furthermore, my qualifications achieved through education will establish me as an appealing candidate to be recruited by companies seeking to contribute to the society’s well-being whilst simultaneously maximizing profit.

Aside from contributing to the country’s economy, the knowledge I acquire in my education will allow me to add to the country’s social development through transformative impacts on the economy. The rationale for this strategy is based on the correlation between education and economic growth. Being knowledgeable will create opportunities for developing resources aimed at social development through economic means such as private incomes or enhanced taxation. In this respect, issues such as female empowerment, poverty, and access to health may be positively impacted since they constitute key indicators of the country’s social health. In addition, education will equip me with ethical knowledge that can be used to build behaviors inculcated with the values of honesty and integrity, which is essential considering the current amount of corruption in Kenya.

Lastly, the contribution of my education to economic growth and social development can be illustrated by the creation of a moralistic and innovative-based Kenyan society. Presently, millions of Kenyans are unemployed, resulting in the country’s low economic growth rate. High levels of unemployment have also been linked to vices such as crime, further stunting the society. With education, I can focus on creating platforms that allow unemployed persons to engage in self-sustaining activities rather than depend on the government for financial assistance. Furthermore, I can liaise with not-for-profit groups that focus on assisting the unemployed youth to avoid engaging in crime and other harmful practices. These strategies may have an upward effect on the economy and improve social development to some extent.

The Kenyan government has initiated plans aimed at transforming the country into a mid-sized economy. However, these plans have neglected the fundamental role that education plays in the growth of an economy while simultaneously endorsing social development. If I am given the opportunity to apply what I have learned, I will be able to make an impact on both spectrums by generating productive results via the aptitudes that I have gained. Consequently, I will be able to devise plans to improve social development, hence alleviating problems in areas such as health, poverty and female empowerment, which affects most Kenyans. I will also be able to create platforms that enhance self-sufficiency among unemployed youth hence contributing to the country’s economy and social development in the long run.