ALX Professional Foundations: Milestone 3 Worksheet

Instructions: Provide responses to all items in the orange boxes. The worksheet
consists of Sections A-E. Work on this worksheet one section at a time throughout
your week, and return to Savanna after each section for the next set of content
and further instructions.

SECTION A: Problem Statement

Step 1: Your GCGO

Which Grand Challenge or Great Opportunity (GCGO) do you want to play a part in addressing?
(Pick one.)

As a reminder, the GCGOs are:

● Urbanization
● Education
● Infrastructure
● Healthcare
● Climate change
● Governance
● Job creation
● Agriculture
● Natural resources
● Arts, culture, and design
● Tourism
● Empowerment of women
● Regional integration
● Wildlife conservation

GCGO: Education
Step 2: Describe Your Problem

You are going to take a first pass at briefly describing your chosen problem. This can be any
problem that speaks to you, as long as it is a real-life occurrence that is clearly linked to your
chosen GCGO, that occurs in a certain place and for certain people (and/or animals), and that it
can be clearly defined.

For example, if you chose wildlife conservation as your GCGO, you might first state your chosen
problem as:
There are very few white rhinos left in Kenya and they are in danger of going extinct.

Another example, if you choose infrastructure as your GCGO:

Residents of major cities in South Africa endure prolonged periods without electricity, significantly
hampering their ability to generate income.

Note that this is just your first attempt stating the problem, and you don’t need to quantify the
problem yet. In order to get to your official problem statement (which does need to be
quantifiable) first answer the following questions. The more specific your answers, the better.
You may also ask Google, Wikipedia, , ChatGPT, and/or other reliable online sources to help you.
Please be sure to cite (give credit to) any sources that you use.

Describe your problem using What/Who/When/Where/Why/How….

1. What is the problem? What is reality like because of this problem? What will reality be
like if the problem continues?

The Problem In brief: Education Inequality, Poor Education System In Poor Countries
Old and Non-Effective Education Systems, Average Education Not Available for everyone
globally ( Inequality )

2. Who does this problem impact, directly and indirectly? Who contributes to the problem?

Poor Countries. Poor Family And Many Different Societies

 3. When did this problem begin? When does it occur?

I think This Problem Ever There is Always Been This Problem Of inequality in education and
the Education System But I think The Problem Now Is obvious because of Corruption and Not
being up to date with New Learning systems and Methodology

4. Where is this problem occurring? What is the context in which it occurs?

This Problem Is More Too Obvious In Poor Countries and Societies

5. Why is this a problem? What are the pain points or gaps? Why do you personally care
about this problem?
Because It Affects Many Societies and Individual's Futures and prevents many
Potentials From Growth,Having The opportunity to learn and be creative
Also Because opportunity Inequality is an Ineffective location Of resources

6. How would reality be different if this problem were solved? (This can be your opinion.)
Old, Ineffective Learning System, Poor countries have no access to quallity learning

Step 3: Understand and Quantify Your Problem

Next, you will conduct some basic web research to better understand, define, and quantify your
problem. You will do this through a combination of Google search, Wikipedia, credible web
sources, ChatGPT or other AI research tools, and your own synthesis of information from these
sources. Be sure to give credit to your sources, and paraphrase (use your own words) rather
than quoting directly.

7. What is the historical context for this problem? What happened in the past that
contributes to the problem now?
The roots of education inequality can be traced back centuries, exploitative economic
systems, and the concentration of power and resources in the hands of elite classes. Even
after achieving independence, many developing countries have struggled to overcome the
legacies of underdevelopment and build truly equitable education systems. Lack of
political will, corruption, and inadequate funding have all hindered progress.

8. What are the possible economic (money-related) reasons why this problem exists and
continues?
1- Corruption and Misallocation of Funds,
2- Poverty and Household Finances: Families living in poverty often cannot afford the
indirect costs of education, like school fees, uniforms, supplies, and transportation
3-Lack of Funding: Many developing countries simply do not have the financial resources to
adequately fund their public education systems

9. What are the possible political reasons why this problem exists and continues?
Lack of Political Will: Lack Of will to issue The policies That help and support Education
reform and make it available To everybody

10. What cultural beliefs and/or social norms possibly contribute to this problem?
Undervaluation of Education:
In communities where agriculture, informal labor, or other low-skill work is the norm
The culture of ignorance that prevails in poor societies
 11. Who are the people potentially responsible (directly or indirectly) for creating and/or
maintaining this problem?
National Governments:
Ultimately, national governments hold the primary responsibility for providing quality,
equitable public education
International Organizations
Parents and Communities:
In some cases, entrenched cultural beliefs and resistance to change within local
communities
Wealthy Nations and Donor Countries:
Richer countries that provide development aid and loans to poorer nations have the power
to shape education spending and policies

Now that you have the preliminary information you need, you’ll continue your web research to
find some numbers, or quantifiable information, to help describe your problem:

What numerical data can you find that is relevant to your problem? Be sure to use your own
words and also cite (give credit to) your sources.

Example 1:
According to Chat GPT, there are about 880 white rhinos currently living in Kenya. This population
is very small, and they are critically endangered.

Example 2:
Johannesburg has approximately 5.8 million residents (per ChatGPT) and had approximately 4.7
million international overnight visitors in 2019 (according to the South African Tourism Annual
Report for 2019/2020).

12. Approximately how many people (and/or animals) are directly impacted by this
problem? Explain.
Basically Children and Youth
According to UNESCO, as of 2020, there were approximately 258 million children
and youth out of school globally,from primary to upper secondary levels
Millions more are in school but receiving a low-quality education that fails to impart
the necessary skills
 13. Approximately how many people (and/or animals) are indirectly impacted by this
problem? Explain.
Indirect Impacted Is The families, communities, and countries
Families, communities, and Countries are indirectly affected in terms of reduced
economic opportunities

14. What other numerical data can you share that is relevant to your problem? What can
you find out about its size and scope? What can be measured? (For example, the
amount of trash produced in Nairobi each day, the number of people without access to
clean water, etc.)
1- Studies suggest that improving educational attainment and skills in low and
middle-income countries could boost their GDP per capita by 2-3 times over 40-50 years
2- Youth (ages 15-24) literacy rates are higher, at around 91% Especially In Poor countries
3- Globally, the adult literacy rate is around 86%

Step 4: Describe Your Solved State

Without having to come up with how to solve the problem, describe what the desired, solved
state looks like. Please use numbers wherever possible, and make your solved state specific
and measurable.

Example 1:
There would be a population of 10,000 healthy and protected white rhinos living in the wild in
Kenya.

Example 2:
All 5.8 million residents of Johannesburg would have affordable and consistently available power
from clean energy sources, 99.5% of the time.
 15. If the problem were addressed/solved, what would reality be like?
1-Greater Economic Prosperity:
Investing in quality education would translate to higher individual earnings, more
productive workforces, and accelerated economic growth
Innovations in science, technology, and entrepreneurship would flourish
2-Expanded Access and Opportunity:
All children and youth, regardless of their socioeconomic background, gender, or location,
would have access to high-quality, inclusive education from early childhood through
secondary level

16. Are there other benefits that would come from your problem being solved? Name at
least one.
Greater Economic Prosperity and Innovations in different learning areas such : science,
technology, and entrepreneurship would flourish

Step 5: Clarify Your Problem Scope

You are more effective at solving a problem when you know where its limits are. That is, when
you know what is “in scope” and “out of scope.” For this reason, it is important to list what is out
of scope, or NOT included as part of your problem definition.

Example 1:
The scope of the problem does not cover any other animal species besides white rhinos. It does
not include white rhinos outside of Kenya.

Example 2:
The scope of the problem does not include any businesses or people outside of the
legally-defined Johannesburg city limits. It does not apply to tourists or visitors staying for less
than 1 year in Johannesburg.
 17. What is NOT in the scope of your problem?

Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning

Private and International School Systems

Step 6: Areas for Learning

What do you not know or understand that you would like to know more about? This can be
anything related directly or indirectly to your problem. Let your curiosity run wild!

Example 1:
I’d like to know where most of the demand for rhino horn is coming from. I’d like to know who are
the primary buyers and who is behind the trafficking of rhino horn. I’d like to know how long the
average rhino’s lifespan is. I’d like to know how many babies a typical female rhino has, and how
many babies typically survive into adulthood. I’d like to know more about what diseases impact
rhinos. I’d like to know more about the kinds of habitats that rhinos thrive in. I’d like to understand
what international organizations do the best job supporting wildlife conservation and what their
practices are. I’d like to know what models of community involvement have been most successful
in keeping wildlife safe and thriving. I’d like to understand how much land is available in Kenya for
rhinos to roam.

Example 2:
I’d like to better understand the utility company Eskom and its history. I’d like to understand why
Eksom has failed to plan properly to update its infrastructure. I’d like to understand the
relationship between Eksom and the South African government. I’d like to know if there are private
utility companies providing competition to Eksom. I’d like to know what the latest breakthroughs
are in solar power. I’d like to know what other possible energy sources might be made available in
Johannesburg. I’d like to know how much energy tourists and temporary visitors use. I’d like to
better understand the process of how limited energy supply gets allocated to people and
businesses. I’d like to better understand the economic impact to people and businesses of not
having power.
 18. What else would you like to know or understand better? (It can be anything related to
your problem.) List 5-10 things.
1- the specific socioeconomic, cultural, political, and geographic Factors and
barriers that contribute to education inequality in different regions and
communities.
2-Teacher Training, Support, and E-learning: the challenges faced by teachers,
including issues of recruitment, professional development
3- Governance and Policy Frameworks: that contribute to education inequality in
different regions and communities.
4- Different Learning Methodology and System In Different Nations
5- How To Aware people in poor societies of the importance of learning and
Education
6- E-learning Opportunities And Challenges

Step 7: Problem Statement

This step is the culmination of all you have done in Part A. You will synthesize the work you have
done above to create a problem statement of 150 - 250 words. This should be in narrative form,
2-4 paragraphs, and should NOT use bullet points.

Your problem statement should:

● Provide a succinct description of the problem in the first sentence.
● Indicate specific population affected
● Explain the impact (cost, time, environmental, personal) and why the problem matters.
● Explain what reality would look like if the problem were solved. The gap that exists
between present reality and the desired outcome should be clear.

Please cite (give credit to) where your information came from directly in your statement. Avoid
word-for-word quoting and instead paraphrase (use your own words), as modeled in the
example. Also list your sources and their urls (web addresses) at the end.

Example :
Kenya’s white rhinos are in critical danger of extinction. There are currently about 880 white rhinos
in the country of Kenya, per Wikipedia. According to Chat GPT, Rhinos are considered a keystone
species, meaning they have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem compared to
their population size. Rhinos help shape their environment by influencing vegetation growth and
acting as seed dispersers, which creates habitat for other species (per ChatGPT).

The extinction of white rhinos would have cascading effects on other plant and animal species in
their habitat. According to the Kenya Wildlife Service, rhinos’ presence in reserves and parks bring
millions of tourists each year, contributing to local economies and supporting conservation
efforts. Once a species goes extinct, it is gone forever. The extinction of rhinos would represent
the loss of millions of years of evolutionary history, and unique genetic diversity that science has
yet to fully understand and benefit from (per ChatGPT).

My problem would be considered solved when the population of wild, white rhinos in Kenya
reaches 10,000, and when all imminent threats to their population including poaching and habitat
destruction are not present. If this were the reality, it would create ecosystem balance, create
large revenues from ecotourism, preserve important cultural symbols, and allow for genetic
diversity that could benefit humanity in ways we may not yet fully understand.

Sources:
Kenya Wildlife Services Annual Report 2017, https://www.kws.go.ke/content/annual-reports
ChatGPT, https://chat.openai.com/
“White Rhinoceros”, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_rhinoceros

19. My problem is statement is:

Despite significant progress in expanding access to education worldwide, there are still
unacceptably high levels of inequality in the quality and outcomes of education,
particularly for marginalized and disadvantaged populations. Millions of children and
youth, especially in low-income and conflict-affected countries, lack access to the basic
foundations of learning, limiting their opportunities for personal, social, and economic
development

The persistence of poor learning outcomes, high dropout rates, and wide disparities in
educational attainment both within and across countries undermines human potential and
sustainable development. Structural barriers, such as poverty, gender norms, disability,
and geographic isolation, continue to deny many learners the opportunity to acquire the
knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to thrive in the 21st century

Addressing this global education crisis requires a comprehensive, evidence-based, and

equity-focused approach that tackles the systemic challenges inhibiting the provision of
quality, inclusive education for all. Transforming education systems to deliver effective
teaching and learning, ensure equitable access, and foster holistic student development is
essential for unlocking human potential, promoting social mobility, and building more
prosperous, resilient, and sustainable societies worldwide

To Sum up :
The persistence of unequal access to quality education denies millions of children and youth,
especially in low-income, the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies
needed to thrive. Addressing this global education crisis requires transforming education systems
to deliver effective, inclusive, and equitable learning for all.

20. Please list all sources that you used to form your problem statement:

Chat JPT.Ai : https://poe.com/chat/3enxnwyiwhzsrtkg447

Micorosoft Copilot Ai : https://copilot.microsoft.com/?form=MG0AUO
Gemini .ai

Please go back to Savanna and continue with your learning content. You will
be filling out Step 8 after you’ve completed the Peer Activity.

Step 8: Peer Activity Report

This step is related to your peer activity and should help you to improve your problem statement.
Answer the following questions as part of the activity and then update your Problem Statement
in Step 7 above, based on your feedback.

21. Who reviewed your problem statement? (Give the first and last names of your 2 peers).

Khaled Khairy
Mohamed Ahmed Khalil
 22. In brief, what feedback did they give to you?
1- feedback on The problem statement and The arrangement of the paragraph
2- the second feedback was that he advised me to Mention specific Area or regions For my
research

23. Was their feedback useful to you? Did it feel kind? Why or why not?
Yes, very Much
I need to Rearrange My Problem statement and also define specific areas so i specified The
Poor community in my search
Also, we went through and discussed The step’s content

24. Who did you give feedback to? (Give the first and last names of 2 peers- they may be
the same or different peers from above.)

Mohamed Ahmed Khalil

Khaled Khairy

25. Do you feel that you gave useful and kind feedback to your peers? Why or why not?

Yes, I think I suggest That they use And read Other Resouces Beside Chat jpt
We discussed all Steps content Then I gave them my point of view for editing

Please go back to Savanna and continue with your learning content. You will
be prompted on when to return to complete Section B.
SECTION B: Research Questions & Hypothesis
IMPORTANT: Complete this section AFTER completing the Savanna Modules Asking Effective
Questions and Web Research.

Step 9: Research Questions

Based on what you have learned so far and on ‘Step 6: Areas for Learning’ from this worksheet,
come up with 3 research questions. Research questions should be complex enough that they
can’t be answered by a single Google search. If appropriate, form a hypothesis that your
research may confirm or reject. (As a reminder, a hypothesis is a prediction of how you think
your research will answer your research question. It is your best guess. If you truly have
absolutely no idea, state “not applicable.”)

Example Research Question #1:

What are some ways can we increase rhino populations?
Hypothesis:
Rhino populations will be increased by creating more open spaces for them to roam, increasing
their protection, increasing international interest in them, and other reasons I have yet to uncover.

Example Research Question #2:

Which organizations have been effective at wildlife conservation and what practices do they use?
Hypothesis:
Not applicable; I don’t know.

Example Research Question #3:

How many babies can a typical female white rhino have in her lifetime, and what are the reasons a
female may not have high fertility?
Hypothesis:
A typical female white rhino can have 5 babies in her lifetime, and fertility may be affected by diet,
amount of grazing territory, poaching, stress, mate availability, and other reasons I have yet ot
uncover.

26. Research question #1:

What is the specific socioeconomic, cultural, political, geographic and other
Factors and barriers that contribute to learning inequality?

Hypothesis (if applicable): The Bad Allocation Of resources, The idea of the extremely poor
and very rich countries, and The unwillingness to change

27. Research question #2: What is the challenges and Opportunities E-learning r

Hypothesis (if applicable): Technology advancement In the learning process ( E-Learning)

and Up-to-date Methodology of learning

28. Research question #3:Governance and Policy Frameworks: that Contribute to

Education Inequality

Hypothesis (if applicable): High-cost learning fees, governance should provide programs and
Org such as NGO and non-profit org

Please go back to Savanna and continue with your learning content. You will
be prompted on when to return to complete Section C.
SECTION C: Web Research
Part 1: Research Plan
You can plan out your research, for each of your research questions, using the template below.

29. Step # 1: Define your objectives, 3 research questions & associated hypotheses.

Key Questions: What are you trying to accomplish with this research? What do you wish
to find out that will accelerate your work in the right direction?

Your Response:
1- Understand Stakeholder Roles and Coordination In Education
2-Identify Key Drivers and Barriers to Infornt of Education
3- Provide solutions and suggestions To this Problem

30. Step # 2: Determine your end outputs.

Key Questions: What type of data/information is ideal for you to find, based on what
you are trying to accomplish? Do you need to present it in any particular format?

Your Response:
1- Quantitative Data:
Comprehensive education statistics and indicators, such as enrollment rates,
completion rates, learning outcomes, and equity measures (e.g., gender parity,
disability inclusion) across different regions and demographics.
Socioeconomic data related to factors like poverty, household income, and access to
basic services that influence educational attainment.

2- Qualitative Insights
 In-depth case studies and narratives that illustrate the lived experiences of
marginalized learners and the barriers they face in accessing quality
education

31. Step # 3: Scope your main sources of information.

Key Questions: Do you already know where you might want to go to find the information
you're seeking? Are there particular entities or organizations that you know are seen as
"experts" on the topic?

Your Response:
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD
World Bank Education Global Practice
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO

After you updated earlier parts of the worksheet based on your research
plan, please go back to Savanna and continue with your learning content.
Return to Part 2 and Part 3 prior to submitting your milestone.

Part 2: Conducting Research

You can answer the following questions as you complete conducting your research into your
research questions.

32. Step 1: Begin gathering your required information.

 Key Questions: What search terms should you use? How many reports/articles do you
want to read before deciding you have seen enough?

Your Response:
To explore this topic further, we need to read the articles Educational Inequality,” “Poor
Education Systems,” and “Global Education Challenges.” As for the number of reports
or articles, I think it’s beneficial to review at least three well-researched sources to gain
a comprehensive understanding

33. Step 2: Evaluate the Validity/Credibility of Your Sources and Information

Key Questions: Are the sources credible and reliable? Consider the authority, accuracy,
objectivity, and currency of the information to ensure its validity for your research.

Your Response: I will Use The Crap Model

I will Asses The Currency and how recent the information is. Look for up-to-date
sources, asses Authority: Through Investigating the author’s credentials, asses
Reliability: Assess the credibility of the source. And Purpose/Point of View: Understand
the behind the information. Is it informative, persuasive, or biased

34. Step 3: Synthesize and Communicate Your Key Findings.

Key Questions: Summarize the key information and findings that you have gathered
during your research. Organize these findings in a clear and coherent manner,
ensuring that they directly address your research objectives and questions.

Your Response:
The research Results Highlights :
1- Impact of The Inquality of Educations In poor Society To Economic Growth
2- The Poor Education Systems How To improve it ? Using The E- Learning
3- E-learning Opportunities and Challenges

35. Return to Your Original Objectives and Key Questions.

 Key Questions: Revisit your initial objectives and key questions to ensure that your
research findings adequately address them. Reflect on whether your findings have
effectively contributed to solving the identified problem.

Your Response: Yes I think My Research Effectively Reflect Stakeholder Roles and
Coordination In Education Key Drivers and Barriers of Infornt of Education
and solutions and suggestions To this Problem

Part 3: Research Summary

In 200-300 words, provide an executive summary of your research in the text box below. You
should be synthesizing information from multiple sources. Provide answers and explanations
for the 3 questions you investigated and your key research findings. This should be in a narrative
format (no bullet points), and be at least 3 paragraphs long.

Please use at least 3 different online sources such as ChatGPT, organizational websites,
Wikipedia, etc. Please cite (give credit to) where your information came from directly in your
statement. Avoid word-for-word quoting, paraphrase instead (use your own words), as modeled
in the example. Also, list your sources and their URLs (web addresses) at the end.

36. Research Summary :

My research has examined persistent inequities in educational access and
outcomes, as well as efforts to address these challenges through systemic reforms
and technological innovation
A key focus has been investigating the root causes of educational inequality. My
analyses indicate that factors like socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and
geographic location continue to heavily influence a student's educational trajectory.
Students from low-income families, racial/ethnic minorities, and rural communities
often face resource-constrained schools, less experienced teachers, and cultural
biases that hamper their learning and attainment

At the same time, I've evaluated the impacts of policies and programs aimed at
leveling the playing field. While school choice and teacher quality initiatives can
 help, my research suggests that these approaches alone are insufficient. Deeper,
more holistic reforms to school funding, educator preparation, and community
engagement are necessary to truly dismantle the systemic barrier

Turning to technology, my work has explored the potential of e-learning to

democratize education. Online courses, virtual tutoring, and educational apps hold
promise for expanding access, especially in underserved areas. However, the
effectiveness of e-learning hinges on factors like digital access, learner motivation,
and instructional design. Careful implementation and ongoing evaluation are crucial
to ensure these tools benefit all students equitable

Overall, my research underscores the complex, multifaceted nature of

educational inequality. Sustainable progress will require sustained, coordinated
efforts across policy, practice, and community engagement domains.

Once you have completed this worksheet, export/convert to .pdf, rename it per the
instructions, and upload to Savanna as your Milestone # 3 Submission. Celebrate a job well
done!