Education

Facts Background Australia's response The global agenda Facts International Literacy Day, 8 September, focuses attention on the rights of all to an education, and to the improved prosperity, health and security it brings. There are over 860million illiterate people in the world, of whom: 61% come from Bangladesh, China, India and Pakistan 66% are women In 41 countries, including some Central and East European nations, the numbers of children with access to primary education has actually fallen since 2000. In OECD countries, the proportion of adults with tertiary education qualifications rose from 22% to 45.6% between 1975 and 2002. Over 103.5 million primary school age children worldwide are not enrolled in school. Nearly 57% of these are girls. The literacy rate for women aged 15-24 years improved from 78 to 83% between 1990 and 2002, but eliminating gender disparity in education by 2015 is still unlikely. There is a worldwide shortage of school teachers and, according to the EFA Report 2002, an extra 15-35 million more teachers will be required to achieve universal primary education by 2015. Total aid to basic education in low-income countries almost double between 2000 and 2004. Sources: UNESCO http://uis.unesco.org/ http://www.developmentgoals.org/   Background The Right to Education Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit." The right to at least a primary education is seen as so important that the United Nations gave it the second highest priority in the Millennium Development Goals, after the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. The importance of education is that it creates opportunities and choices for individuals, offering chances to improve standards of living while creating citizens who are skilful, well-informed and equipped to help their country achieve economic and social prosperity. Education for All The 1990 Conference on Education for All, in Jomtien, Thailand, pledged to achieve universal primary education by 2000. But in 2000, 104 million school-age children were still not in school, 57 percent of them were girls and 94 percent were in developing countries - mostly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Millennium Development Goals set a more realistic, but still difficult, deadline of 2015 when all children, everywhere, should be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. The steps to achieving this were outlined in the Framework for Action's following six goals: Expand early childhood care and education A safe and caring environment and good quality early childhood care and education, both in families and formal programs, helps improve the survival, growth, development and learning potential of young children. Provide free and compulsory education of good quality by 2015 No one should be denied the opportunity to complete a good quality primary education because it is not affordable. Children should not have to travel great distances or fear for their safety getting to school. Education needs to be inclusive and flexible, supplying the needs of all learners, including those who may have to work to help in the family businesses. Promote the acquisition of life-skills by adolescents and youth Many young people are unable to complete primary school, and need youth-friendly programs to help develop useful social and work-related skills. Increase adult literacy rates by 50% by 2015 Adult education is often overlooked and under-funded. Increasing the education of adults beyond basic literacy assists families and the general development of communities. Eliminate gender disparities in education by 2005 and achieve gender equity by 2015 Access to education for girls includes creating safe school environments, and overcoming bias in teacher and community attitudes, courses, textbooks and teaching and learning activities. Literacy is a fundamental skill which empowers women to take control of their own lives, to engage directly with authority and to access the wider world of learning. Research indicates that there is a direct, positive correlation between women's education and increasing children's chances of surviving so that they, in turn, become healthier and better educated. Enhance educational quality A quality education satisfies basic learning needs while enriching the lives of the learners and their life experiences. Such an education requires motivated students, well-trained and supported teachers, adequate facilities, relevant curriculum, an encouraging environment, clear and accurate assessment, and recognition of local communities and cultures. http://www.worldbank.org.cn/english/content/767h6208311.shtml Australia's response The Australian Government's overseas aid program helps countries develop better quality, cost effective and community-focused education services which will lead to better education outcomes in the long term. One quarter of Australia's education sector aid is for basic education with special assistance for girls and minority populations. Australia is also assisting to improve the quality of education through the provision of basic education materials and textbooks, enhancing teaching skills and curricula, and strengthening management skills in schools to ensure better use of existing resources. Australia provides technical and vocational education assistance and higher education scholarships to help build an educated, skilled labour force. Source: AusAid: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/education.cfm The global agenda

Education (World Bank) URL:  http://www1.worldbank.org/education/ Education is one of the five corporate priorities in the World Bank's overall assistance strategy to help countries reduce poverty. Overarching goals in education are to help countries (i) attain Education for All, and especially ensure that by 2015 every boy and girl completes a primary education of good quality, and (ii) compete successfully in the global knowledge-driven markets. In setting out to achieve Education for All, the World Bank provides loans to help countries develop holistic education systems and, through Education for the Knowledge Economy, build dynamic knowledge societies that are the key to competing in global markets. Through a mix of finance and knowledge transfers the Bank aims to help countries develop education systems that are holistic, sustainable, and emphasise education quality and learning outcomes. Global Campaign for Education URL:  http://www.campaignforeducation.org/ The Global Campaign for Education (CGE) is an organisation of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and teachers' unions from over 150 countries striving to attain universal, quality education. It promotes education as a basic human right, and, through mobilising public opinion, pressures governments and the international community to fulfil their promises to provide free, compulsory, and public basic education for all people, particularly for children, women and other disadvantaged sections of society. Stir your world! URL:  http://stir.org.au/stir/Default.aspx Stir: Australian Youth Activists website aims to changing the world for good. Young people are encouraged to fight poverty and be involved in the 'Make poverty history' campaign. Information and stories on poverty, Art4Aid, Scratch the Debt, Child Soldiers, Child labour, HIV / AIDS, Trade Justice, Fair Trade, East Timor, and Child trafficking. Vision Generation is associated with World Vision Australia. UNESCO Education URL:  http://www.unesco.org/education/index.shtml UNESCO is the United Nation's specialised agency for education. The Education Information Service provides information about International Meetings, educational reports, teachers' forums, UNESCO programmes, technical advice, standard setting, innovative projects, capacity building and networking. UNESCO's close links with education ministries and other partners in 190 countries put it in a key position to press for action. It's mission is to: promote education as a fundamental right, improve the quality of education and stimulate experimentation, innovation and policy dialogue. It has oversight of Education for All and the United Nations Literacy Decade 2003-2012.

Teachers are taught new and engaging methods, such as use of a glove puppet, through the Australian supported Basic Education Management and Teacher Upgrading Project in Fiji. © Peter Davis/AusAID Mary Tony, motor mechanic, is a recipient of an Equity Scholarship, which forms part of the Australian Government's commitment to expanding and strengthening the educational opportunities in Vanuatu. © Peter Davis.AusAID A rugby sports carnival in East London, South Africa where more than 500 children play and receive coaching. Not only are rugby skills valued, it is also an important community building exercise, and a means to teach communities about life-skills such as education and HIV prevention, and poverty alleviation. © Jo Elsom/AusAID The Mbambanakira village school, Weather Coast, Solomon Islands © Peter Davis/AusAID