MDG2: Achieve universal primary education

 

Pakistan still battling for primary education

Despite constant governmental promises to focus on its education system, Pakistan is still floundering in the education stakes. Only a very small percentage of the population passes primary education, and the system itself is riddled with problems. Furthermore, children often have to travel for miles across unsafe terrain to access schools. Click here for more information on the situation.

 

The Sorry State of Female Education in Malawi

This harrowing article from the Guardian describes the difficulty in completing primary education in poverty-stricken Malawi, particularly for girls. Despite education being free since 1994, the need for work and money drives many children to abandon their schooling. Let’s pray that children like Loveness, who have been robbed of many opportunities, find ways to better their situations.

 

Learn Without Fear

Plan International have just released the third progress report on Live Without Fear, their campaign to end violence in schools. Click here to watch the campaign presentation, or here to download the full report.

 

Increase in Sudan School Enrolments

The annual report by south Sudan’s ministry of general education and instruction has indicated an increase in school enrolments at all levels since 2005.

The report, published on 8th January, praises the higher rates, although also notes the schism between wealthier families, as well as regional differences. To read a summary article, click here, or to look at the ministry’s website, click here.

 

‘Thank You Small Library’ Project Promotes Education

Along with 18 other African countries, Gambia is benefitting from a scheme entitled ‘Thank You Small Library (TYSL), which aims to increase literacy and the joy of reading among underprivileged and rural children. The project partners with UNAIDS and the ST-EP Foundation to improve education in the areas furthest away from achieving MDG2. To read more about the impact the TYSL project has had on the Gambia, click here.

 

New Award for Global Education “Laureate”

The World Innovation Summit for Education has created a new award for an education “laureate”. This year’s prize went to Sir Fazle Hasan Abed from Qatar, in recognition of the poverty relief efforts of the Brac project, which has educated over 10 million children in 10 countries in the global south. On receiving the award, Sir Fazle noted the ever-increasing importance of education for the achievement of this goal. To read more about his work and the new award, click here.

 

Global Development Voices: African Teachers

Click here to read an article detailing the opinions of eight teachers on the state of primary education in their countries, the biggest challenges for Africa in the coming years, and their hopes for the future.

 

Critical Need for Teachers

One of the main obstacles to achieving MDG2 is a lack of teachers in classrooms. Although teachers are often technically employed, the instability of receiving wages – often due to governmental corruption – means they do not actually turn up in schools. Rectifying this situation is critical in order to ensure primary education becomes widespread. For more information on this topic, see articles on the situation in Pakistan, the importance of gender equality, or a global overview from UN news.

‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’

Matthew 19:13-14

69 million school-age children are not in school. Almost half are in sub-Saharan Africa and more than a quarter are in South Asia.

Target 1: By 2015, ensure children everywhere complete a full course of primary education.