"A majority of children in Tanzania do not attend school due to informal fees or 'voluntary' parental contributions required for enrolment. This includes, among other things, the compulsory purchase of shoes. All children should be able to attend primary school regardless of whether their parents can or can’t afford to pay or see the value, perhaps never having received an education themselves. At its core, if a child fails to gain the basic skills required to contribute as a functioning member of society, the loss is vast, not just to the child or society but the nation as a whole. For those sceptical, education can ultimately reduce poverty for future generations. Studies show the cost of educating children is far outweighed by the cost of not educating them."