Laura Tello Encinas
2º Economics + international economics and finance
The chapter “Top of the class” talks about the main challenges that the poor face regarding
education. Since education is a key factor in achieving development, the authors make it clear
that the poor don’t normally have access to good education; thus, it is even more difficult for
them to fully develop. The chapter begins with a story of two brothers, Mukesh and Sachin,
who attend a school in a slum in Delhi. Despite the odds against them, the brothers are top
performers in their class, excelling in both academics and extracurricular activities. This story
proves that education can be used as a tool to get people out of poverty, since it can bring lots
of opportunities to students.
However, the authors go on to discuss the various barriers that the poor face in accessing
education. One of the primary barriers is the lack of resources. Poor families often struggle to
pay for school fees, books, uniforms, and transportation. Additionally, poor families may rely
on their children to work and contribute to the household income, making it difficult for them
to attend school regularly. Moreover, another significant barrier is the quality of education. The
authors argue that the poor often attend schools that are poorly equipped, staffed by under
trained teachers, and lack basic facilities like toilets and clean water. These factors can make it
difficult for students to learn and thrive in school, leading to low attendance and poor academic
performance.
To overcome these barriers, the authors first suggest providing conditional cash transfers to
poor families, which can help cover the costs of schooling and incentivize them to send their
children to school regularly. The authors cite several studies that have shown the effectiveness
of such programs in increasing school attendance and improving academic performance.
Another intervention is to improve the quality of education by providing training to teachers
and investing in school infrastructure. The authors suggest that by improving the quality of
education, poor students will be more likely to attend school regularly and perform better
academically.
The chapter shows the importance of education in development. It is important to provide
financial support to poor families since this is seen as the main booster of quality education.
We should, however, aim to implement policies that actually take into account the lives of the
poor, so that they truly address the issues pertinent to that social group. Basically, what might
work for some people might not work for others, so that’s why it is crucial to focus solely on
the poor and their particular needs.
In conclusion, "Top of the class" is a chapter that sheds light on the challenges that the poor
face in accessing education and the potential for education to lift them out of poverty. The
chapter emphasizes the need for targeted interventions that address the unique circumstances
of the poor and highlights the importance of investing in education to promote economic
development and reduce poverty.