A Call for a US Presidential Initiative on Basic Education in Developing Countries

[Guest guest]

A Call for a US Presidential Initiative on Basic Education in Developing

Countries

10 January 2006

Today, over 100 million children in the world's poorest countries do not

attend school, nearly two-thirds of them girls. The lack of education means

less access to employment opportunities for these children, and greater

social vulnerability. It also means weakened economic growth and democratic

stability in the societies in which these children and their families live.

Education is also essential to further progress in preventing the spread of

HIV/AIDS. Education - especially for girls - can significantly reduce HIV

infection rates. Young people with access to education are less likely put

themselves at risk of contracting HIV. Education can further help by

fostering poverty reduction, gender equality, female empowerment, and

awareness of human rights. The Global Campaign for Education estimates that

if all children received a primary education, as many as 700,000 cases of

HIV could be prevented each year.

Yet the world is not doing enough to ensure that all children are able to

access a free, quality education. The U.K.'s Department for International

Development estimates that an additional $10 billion per year in external

financing from now until 2015 is required if poor countries are to achieve

universal primary education. This type of estimate takes into account the

additional resources needed to enhance girls' enrollment, address the impact

of AIDS on school systems, and support education in countries experiencing

conflicts and other emergencies.

To ensure that we move toward free, quality education for children - and

make special efforts to reach poor girls and orphans and vulnerable children

- we call for a US Presidential Initiative on education that would

significantly expand the United State's political and financial leadership

on achieving the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education

by 2015. U.S. leadership is essential if the world is to reach this goal.

Crucial to this initiative is for the U.S. to support increases in both

bilateral and multilateral aid through the Education for All Fast Track

Initiative, and to encourage more developing nations to come forward with

strong plans for free, quality education. We should especially seek to

provide timely support to nations that eliminate school fees, in order to

ensure that they have the resources they need to expand enrollment and seek

widespread reforms without a dramatic rise in class size and a fall in

quality.

Access to education is a central component of the global march toward

freedom, and the time is ripe for a much ramped-up global effort. We call

on the US to lead the world in a global campaign that gets all children the

education they deserve.

SIGNED:

Advocates for Youth

Africa Regional Youth Initiative, Kenya

American Jewish World Service

American Medical Student Association

Association of Liberian Professional Organizations (ALPO)

Azim Premji Foundation

Biddi Community Development Group, Kenya

Children's Project

Church Women United

Church World Service

Comparative Education

Elton AIDS Foundation

Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition

Global Action for Children

Global AIDS Alliance

Global Campaign for Education (GCE)

Harambee Africa International, Kenya

Health Gap (Global Access Project)

Ikonzo Musanda Self Help Group

Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection, Lusaka, Zambia

Le Syndicat National des Engeignants du Niger

Mass Communication Power Agency, Romania

Mother's Acting Up

National Union of Education Workers in Niger (SYNTEN)

Network Forum, Nigeria

Participation in the Lives of African Youth

Physicians for Human Rights

PMC Ministries, Zambia

ProGay Philippines

RESULTS

RESULTS-Utah

RESULTS -Austin, Texas

RESULTS -New Mexico

Student Campaign for Child Survival

Student Global AIDS Campaign

United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society

World Teach

The Global Campaign for Education

Regional and international members:

ActionAid International

Africa Network Campaign on Education for All

Asia-Pacific Bureau on Adult Education

Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED)

CARE

CEAAL (Latin American education network with members in 21 countries)

Education International (global federation of teacher unions representing 25

million teachers)

FAPE

Fe Y Alegria

Global March Against Child Labour

Ibis

Inclusion International

NetAid

Oxfam International

Plan International

Public Services International

REPEM

Save the Children Alliance

Sightsavers International

VSO

World Alliance of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

World Vision International

National civil society coalitions (representing hundreds of organizations)

Bangladesh (CAMPE)

Brazil (CDE)

Burkina Faso (CCEB)

Canada (Canadian GCE Alliance)

El Salvador (CIAZO)

France (Solidarite Laique)

Gabon (CONCEG)

Gambia (GEFA)

Ghana (GNECC)

India (NCE)

Indonesia (E-Net for Justice)

Ireland (Irish GCE coalition)

Japan (JNNE)

Kenya (Elimu Yetu Coalition)

Lesotho (LEFA)

Liberia (ALPO)

Malawi (CSCQBE)

Mali (ASSAFE)

Mozambique (MEPT)

Nigeria (CSACEFA)

Pakistan (EFA Network)

Sierra Leone (EFA Network)

South Africa (GCE-SA)

Tanzania (TEN/MET)

Togo (CNT/CME)

UK (UK GCE group)

Zambia (ZANEC)