Nuestra Señora De Guia Academy of Marikina – J.P.

Rizal Campus
904 J. P. Rizal St, Nangka, Marikina, 1808 Metro Manila

Is College Education a Sure Way to Escape the Cycle of Poverty?

A Concept Paper
Presented to the
Faculty of
NSDGA – J.P. Rizal Campus
Marikina City

In partial fulfillment to the requirements in

Miranda, Princess Anne Shantel P.

In the fabric of human existence, poverty stands as a formidable adversary, weaving its

intricate threads through the tapestry of societies worldwide. This paper endeavors to navigate the

contours of this pervasive societal dilemma, probing the depths of its complexity and questioning

whether a college degree or college education can serve as the beacon of hope amidst adversity.

Poverty, a kaleidoscopic phenomenon, extends far beyond the confines of material

insufficiency, ensnaring individuals and communities in a web of interwoven challenges—

economic, social, political, and psychological. It inflicts a profound toll, impeding access to

education, healthcare, and opportunities, fracturing the bedrock of human potential. Its reach spans

continents, transcending geographical boundaries to afflict both the urban and the rural places,

perpetuating a cycle of deprivation that echoes across generations.

Yet, amid this grim reality, empowerment emerges as a potent force—a path for change

capable of dismantling the entrenched structures of poverty. Empowerment, in its manifold forms,

embodies the transformative power inherent in education, agency, access to resources, and the

amplification of marginalized voices. In this study, focusing on education specifically college

education, looking at it in the point of view of different circumstances in terms of poverty.

This paper endeavors to unravel poverty, examining its nuanced dimensions and

interrogating the efficacy of college degrees as a counterforce. By delving into empirical evidence,

theoretical frameworks, and real-world studies, it seeks to dive the intricate mechanisms through

which education can disrupt the cycles of poverty, fostering resilience, self-determination, and

sustainable progress.
 As we embark on this intellectual journey, the central inquiry remains: Can college

education serve as the transformative agent that emancipates societies from the clutches of

poverty? Through this exploration, this paper aims not only to understand poverty's complexity

but also to advocate for strategies that embolden individuals and communities, heralding a future

where empowerment triumphs over adversity, illuminating pathways towards a more just and

equitable world.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

A. DEFINITION OF THE TOPIC

Poverty being a common talk around today's society, it is clear that it plays a huge role in

the economic well-being of a person, a city, and mostly the country. It is a situation where an

individual is financially deprived and is living below the standard quality of living. In the

Philippines, the average income of a Filipino every year is Php 276, 627.00 whereas the lower 10

percent of the Filipino population survives on an income of Php 90,788.98. The data shows that

the lower 10 percent of Filipinos earn an income which is three times lower than the average.

Dwelling more into this topic, poverty may be caused by the interplay of social, systemic, and

economic factors that also varies between countries and cities. On the other hand, there are said

solutions to poverty, the many ways of empowerment. In this study, the goal is to investigate the

connection between one of the empowering ways, education and poverty. Due to the country's

belief that studying and finishing a higher quality of education will bring an individual to success,

this belief established the need to delve into its connection with financial stability and deprivation.

Whether a college degree can make or break the cycle of adversity. Ultimately, this study aims to
know if a degree is a transformative tool to be emancipated from poverty and finally pave a way

towards a poverty-free society.

B. DECLARATION

Poverty hinders a person from attaining a quality life as well as limiting the access to higher

education, a barrier from acquiring certain skills and information that are essential from getting

better opportunities and high-paying jobs creating a possible never-ending cycle where there's a

lack of educational attainment, there is also financial deprivation.

C. SUPPORTING DETAILS

Not being able to live a quality life is a barrier to most people, if not most, all people.

Suffering in financial deprivation is a common thing nowadays, with the country's inflation rate

continuously rising with its peak at 4.10% today and the minimum wage being more stable than

ever, it has become almost impossible to stay afloat. The basic necessities of a person, it is not

met. In worst cases, people lose their homes, survive with little to no food and water, no proper

healthcare, waiting for a miracle to happen for their lives to turn around. These circumstances

affect their overall quality of living, some may even call it as far from living.

Poverty doesn't just affect the quality of life of a person, it can also hurt the child of that

person. There are government programs that help raise that child, public schools that offer

education with free tuition, yet these offers will only last for a good amount of time. To be able to
acquire a high-paying job, employers require a college degree for that specific job position. Not

being able to graduate college will make it hard for an individual to move forward with life and

may cause a more or less situation of generational poverty if that cycle in their family continued.

On the other hand, some entrepreneurs today like Josh Mojica, the CEO of the trending

KangKong Chips somehow advertise being an undergraduate. Because according to him, he

focuses on his business for him to earn more rather than continue studying in college. Being

undergraduate made him successful. He doesn't have a college degree yet he is earning millions.

Contradicting this is the fact that more successful entrepreneurs and people in the successful

industries continue to send their children to school, to colleges to attain a degree. These situations

are just a visualization of varying time, circumstance, and social status to know whether a college

degree truly contributes to success.

D. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE SOLVED?

This problem is in need of an immediate solution due to the fact that aside from it being

present for several decades, a lot of people are also suffering and living in the silver lining. It needs

to be solved so people can start living in the quality of life that they deserve and the life that they

have been promised ever since they came into this world. In addition, finding out whether there is

a connection or not between poverty and a good educational attainment or a college degree will

become an eye-opener for everyone, especially children and the youth to be motivated to continue

studying and reaching out for that degree for them to acquire a better living condition rather than

living between paycheck to paycheck.

The tool that the researcher will use to conduct the data gathering procedure in this study

is a questionnaire that consists of standardized questions that aims to gather the following

information; educational attainment: elementary, high school or college, if a college graduate,

specify the college degree; monthly household income and; employment: if employed, specify the

occupation. Using these data, the researcher will be able to come up with a comprehensive data

report after analysis that will determine the outcome and a proposed solution for the problem in

this study.

III. RESPONDENTS

The people that are involved and will make the study more meaningful and comprehensive are the

following:

• Randomly Selected People from Felicidad Village, Brgy. Banaba

• Parents of 11-STEMA6 who are from Brgy. Banaba

IV. PROPOSED SOLUTION

A possible solution for this study, right off the hook is to create and implement a strong

foundational program that focuses on expanding educational projects that are sure to reach

remotely hidden and underprivileged communities. These projects will stand as a promotion for
scholarships, initiatives for mentorship, as well as a support service to help students from less

fortunate backgrounds to continue to explore the world of education and eventually attain a college

education and degree. By implementing universal access to education that is of high quality, the

society can give individuals, whether they are from the lower or upper class, with the tools that are

essential for them to thrive.

In addition, the government should be more aware, secure, and strict regarding the

backgrounds of people during programs for the underprivileged. In most cases, people who are

more fortunate are prioritized in those types of programs rather than those who are truly in need.

The safety nets that the government will establish will act as a barrier against the harsh truth of

economic instability, providing a sense of security and somehow stability to those people who are

in need. Having access to these basic necessities can help individuals to emancipate from the

constraints of poverty and run towards a viable future.

Moreover, initiatives aimed at empowering the economy are essential for promoting

independence and lowering reliance on assistance. Local economic growth is stimulated through

promoting entrepreneurship, providing access to microfinance, and putting job creation initiatives

into action. These initiatives not only create jobs but also foster an innovative and independent

culture in the areas they serve. Societies create the conditions for inclusive growth and sustainable

development by giving people more economic power.

Lastly, to finally address the systemic problems that keep people in poverty, advocacy and

policy reform are essential. Societies may establish a more level playing field by supporting laws

that advance equality, lower barriers, and address the underlying causes of poverty. By tearing

down systemic injustices, these changes hope to give everyone equitable access to opportunities.
Societies have the power to break the chains of poverty and build a more equitable and affluent

future by coordinating advocacy campaigns and legislative changes.

V. POSSIBLE OUTCOME

One of the study's possible outcomes is a change in public opinion on the contribution of

education to the fight against poverty. A greater public acceptance of the life-changing potential

of a college education in ending the cycle of poverty could result in more people in society

supporting educational programs that serve underprivileged populations. Greater equity and

accessibility in higher education could come from this, as well as policy changes and improved

funding for education.

Individual empowerment through education leading to increased economic mobility is

another possible benefit. Those from underrepresented backgrounds may have better work

opportunities and higher income potential with more access to higher education. Positive

socioeconomic improvements could therefore occur in families and communities, ending the

generational cycle of poverty.

Furthermore, the research will serve as an agent for the creation and execution of focused

programs and campaigns designed for assisting people in seeking and finishing their university

degrees. This could consist of the creation of career development pathways, mentoring services,

and scholarship initiatives that are especially intended to help students from families with limited

resources. Such initiatives might eventually lower poverty rates and result in noticeable increases

in marginalized groups' graduation rates.

discussion on the relationship between poverty and education. This might lead to continued

research into creative educational interventions and a deeper comprehension of the complex

variables influencing poverty and the effectiveness of educational interventions. Therefore, there's

a chance that researchers, decision-makers, and advocacy organizations will work together more

closely to improve current tactics and create fresh ideas for eradicating poverty through education.

In general, these will collectively indicate a more significant change in societal attitudes,

policies, and opportunities as the physical study is carried out, with the ultimate goal being to

address the enduring problem of poverty through the lens of educational empowerment.