EDUCATION is a strong determinant of higher remunerations in the course of a lifetime and generally, higher education levels result in increased incomes. For instance, a university graduate is likely to earn more than a college graduate. These higher earnings levels create better health outcomes in terms of longer lifespans, healthy lifestyles and enough funds to spend on health maintenance and improvement activities. However, the link between the years of schooling, adult mortality and longevity has been under-researched. This under-examined connection has been somewhat established recently, and estimates for years of schooling and gains in lifespan were produced in a recent global meta-analysis and systematic review.

The Centre for Global Health Inequities-Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (Chain-IHEME) issued a global meta-analysis and systematic review that estimates the magnitude of education on mortality risks and lifespans. The study covers 70 locations in 59 countries in 10 languages, including the UK, US, Brazil and China. The findings of the study are far-reaching in terms of policy implications and resources. It goes beyond previous studies on the subject as it is not restricted by time, location and language.

While previous studies on educational inequalities focused on high-income countries, this study includes varied economic contexts and regions and produces estimates of adult mortality in the age group 18 to 70 years. The importance of this analysis lies in its identification of under-examined benefits of education by systematically identifying and quantifying the impact of number of years of education on adult mortality risk at a global level.

Broadly, the review shows that the number of years spent in education have a relationship with longevity and mortality. In this way, education exercises not only protective effects on adult mortality but also serves a longevity-boosting function.

A longer stay at school can add years to life.

According to the study, every year spent at school or university reduces the risk of mortality by two per cent. For 18 years of education, the mortality risk declines by a whopping 34pc, while completing secondary education cuts the risk by an impressive 25pc. Therefore, you can add more years to your life with a longer stay at school.

Conversely, those missing out on school years or dropping out of school find themselves deprived of health benefits. The report claims that adults not receiving any education face higher risks of ill-health throughout their lives — the effects are comparable to consuming five or more alcoholic drinks daily or smoking 10 cigarettes per day for a decade. It also demonstrates that mortality risk is moderated by health behaviour. Higher education, in turn, shapes access to better healthcare and wholesome lifestyles.

Pakistan has one of the highest number of out-of-school children in the world; the dropout rate is elevated as are school absences. These factors have a direct impact on the number of years spent in education and the cumulative effect on mortality risk and healthy lifespans. In Pakistan, education has, so far, been narrowly conceived. Its impact on mortality risk reduction has not been considered in public health strategies. Therefore, pouring more and dedicated money into education and making concerted efforts to keep children in school and beyond can result in better health outcomes for population health, which, in turn, saves governmental and individual expenditure on health, especially in poor households.

Policymakers and politicians should see both education and health as intimately connected and focus on improving educational outcomes and retaining as large a number of youngsters as possible from school to university — the best investment in health and education.

A strategy that combines education and health will see not only prosperity but also improved health for the nation in the long term. Our younger generations are affected more by education inequalities that plague our education system. Therefore, enhanced schooling policies and increased resources towards education can act as proactive investment in health, which reduces disparities in learning and well-being.

Education is an essential component of the Sustainable Development Goals, which target inclusive and quality education for everyone, gender equality and reduction of inequalities within and between countries. Pakistan has been lagging behind on SDG targets. Dedicating sustained and stipulated funds to education with an ‘education-health’ lens as the bedrock of investment and policies can turn the tide on low educational attainment and associated low health outcomes.

The writer, a public health and development consultant, is the author of Patient Pakistan: Reforming and Fixing Healthcare.

drarifazad@gmail.com

X: @arifazad5

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2024