It's always nice to read honest opinions. Only honest people can speak their heart out and still they do it incredibly well. I loved your comment and your wisdom to hold the judgement back until having substantial information about specific situation.

Having said that, I share your opinion on education and even homeschooling. My kids may go to school but I will not ask them to do well in school exams because that is worthless. I strongly agree with factory workers argument as well because I have studied and observed the education system (it's worse here than in US) and found it to be outdated, unnecessary and damaging. I can write at length about it and can share examples as well but I will, instead, share a Pink Floyd song with you. It reflects my strong opinion on schools and prevailing education system.

About the irrational financial decision making, I am agitated too at times but I cannot let anything worse, like a suicide, happen while I still can do something about it. I try to educate them on financial matters and how to best make use of available resources but they don't have much at the moment. About sending children to school despite not being able to afford, I cannot let the children be out of school and you'll know why below.

Specifics are very discouraging. Father is cannot read or write. Mother can read Urdu, the national language, but cannot write or read English. In short, school is the only place where these children can get basic education. They cannot be homeschooled. Although I try to engage with kids and encourage them to explore their own capabilities, I live hundreds of miles away mostly.

My personal story is based only on one thing; education. If I were not sent to school by my father, I would have been a poor farmer or a labor worker in Middle East now. I can see from experience how basic education has changed my life for good. I was never interested in giving too much attention to school and I seldom did homework. I am not a university graduate as well. The proper education I have is what you call high school in States. That too, I managed to get because I was gifted with great analytical ability. I wasn't, thankfully, a good student.

So, I share the same thoughts as you. Despite having strong personal stance on education system, I wish to see these kids come out of the poverty trap and I am planning to train them from my personal experience.