Complete Schedule

Presentation Type

Open Access Poster Presentation

Abstract

The significance of education in creating opportunities for individuals has been established as important to both individual growth and national development. The purpose of this project is to assess the role of education by comparing the educational system in the United States with that of South Sudan in terms of structure, accessibility, and barriers. The U.S. has a well developed educational system with access to public education for (almost) all children, whereas children in South Sudan face significant challenges to receiving an education. These challenges include a lack of infrastructure, a lack of trained educators, a lack of resources, and the lingering effects of civil strife. A literature review of journal articles, reports, and educational information will be conducted to provide an analysis of the differences that exist between the two countries educational systems. The result of the literature review will be a comprehensive comparison of the two educational systems, including specific data relating to differences in school enrollment, availability of educational resources, and differences by gender in terms of access to education. The educational system in the U.S. consists primarily of public schools that provide education to the majority of the population through government funding. Conversely, children in South Sudan face ongoing challenges in obtaining an equitable education. By comparing the two countries educational systems, the impact of education on the continued development of a nation and on the quality of an individual's life can be assessed. The comparison will demonstrate the need for global efforts to improve access to education in developing countries.

Start Date

14-4-2026 11:00 AM

End Date

14-4-2026 11:50 AM

Faculty Advisor

Itunu Ilesanmi

Department

Department of Social Work

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

File Format

application/pdf

File Size

1.02 MB

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Additional Files

INSPIRE_2026_Defenbaugh_Importance-Education_Paper.pdf (164 kB)
The Importance of Education: A Comparison of Educational Systems in the United States and South Sudan Paper

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Apr 14th, 11:00 AM Apr 14th, 11:50 AM

The Importance of Education: A Comparison of Educational Systems in the United States and South Sudan

The significance of education in creating opportunities for individuals has been established as important to both individual growth and national development. The purpose of this project is to assess the role of education by comparing the educational system in the United States with that of South Sudan in terms of structure, accessibility, and barriers. The U.S. has a well developed educational system with access to public education for (almost) all children, whereas children in South Sudan face significant challenges to receiving an education. These challenges include a lack of infrastructure, a lack of trained educators, a lack of resources, and the lingering effects of civil strife. A literature review of journal articles, reports, and educational information will be conducted to provide an analysis of the differences that exist between the two countries educational systems. The result of the literature review will be a comprehensive comparison of the two educational systems, including specific data relating to differences in school enrollment, availability of educational resources, and differences by gender in terms of access to education. The educational system in the U.S. consists primarily of public schools that provide education to the majority of the population through government funding. Conversely, children in South Sudan face ongoing challenges in obtaining an equitable education. By comparing the two countries educational systems, the impact of education on the continued development of a nation and on the quality of an individual's life can be assessed. The comparison will demonstrate the need for global efforts to improve access to education in developing countries.