It All Starts with Education

The Academy for Educational Development, a Coalition partner, has worked in Ghana since 1985 on projects like this one: the Educational Quality Improvement Program. © Richard Lord / Academy for Educational Development In 2000, at a conference in Dakar, Senegal, 164 nations committed to achieving the goal of Education for All (EFA) by 2015. Since then, we have made significant progress, with tens of millions of additional children receiving access to basic education, learning to read and write, add and subtract, and develop critical thinking skills. Close to half of these countries have either met, or are on track to meet, EFA by 2015. Many of the rest should meet it by 2025. Over 100 million children, however, are still not in school. Many of these children will be the hardest to reach because over half of them are in countries in conflict, or recovering from conflict. And, many other challenges remain, including insufficient resources, lack of political will, and numerous barriers to getting and keeping children—particularly girls—in school. In many places, children don’t always go to school, stay in school, and learn while they are there. Access and quality are fundamental. Providing access to a quality education does, however, have ripple effects providing access to quality education has ripple effects that matter to all of us that matter to all of us. Basic education is empowering for individuals, their families, communities, and nations. Alternatively, a lack of opportunity created by the absence of education can cause despair. Hence, basic education is a sound investment that provides economic, health, societal, and civic returns that will last for generations. A quick review of the benefits shows that basic education is essential for economic growth. An adult with a primary education earns twice as much as an adult without any schooling, and a farmer with just a few years of education is more likely to understand the causes and treatment of crop diseases and how to introduce new farming techniques. Access to quality education is one of the best ways to prevent child labor and trafficking in children. The children of educated women have higher survival rates, better health and nutrition, and are more likely to attend and succeed in school. Basic education is one of the most effective preventive weapons against HIV/AIDS. Young people with little or no education are more than twice as Chat live with Carolyn on October 3! likely to contract HIV as those who have completed primary education, for example. Basic education can transform the lives of girls and women, providing them with a greater appreciation of their own potential and rights as well as expanded employment opportunities. Finally, basic education promotes democratization and stability. An educated citizenry that is capable of making informed decisions, voicing opinions, and holding elected officials responsible is essential for democracy to survive and flourish. With all of these benefits in mind, the twenty organizational members of the Basic Education Coalition created our alliance out of a belief that education is the building block for development. Coalition members have practical experience in implementing innovative programs in countries around the world—from community-based programs to teacher training workshops to national education reform. In southern Sudan, for example, four of the Coalition’s members, working with local NGOs and other partners, are implementing a program that will rehabilitate 290 primary schools, increase equitable access to education, improve teacher training and materials, and also provide non-formal education for 20,000 out-of-school youth and adults. The United States has an important role to play in providing the resources to help countries help themselves to achieve and sustain EFA. Yet, we are falling The United States has an important role to play short in meeting the promises we have made. The proportionate U.S. share of needed resources is over $1 billion per year, but the U.S. government has provided only about half that amount. In April, the British government announced a new initiative to provide $15 billion over the next ten years to meet the goal of Education for All. The United States has yet to match this vision. Without us, the goal will not be met. We can, and must, do better. The future of the world’s children is riding on our success. Carolyn Bartholomew  NEXT “FRONTLINES” ARTICLE: Teachers Without Borders - Education and Islam  PERSPECTIVES HOME: Learning the Future

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