HL Deb 09 December 1999 vol 607 cc98-9WA
Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their latest assessment of progress towards the goal of primary education; when they now expect that goal to be fulfilled; and what action they are taking to speed the process. [HL133]

Baroness Amos

In April 2000, the World Forum on Education in Dakar will assess the progress that has been made since the Education for All Summit in Jomtien in 1990. It will note that 130 million children (two-thirds of whom are girls) still do not or cannot go to school. The forum will pay particular attention to analysing why some countries, including some of the poorest, have managed to achieve considerably more than others.

We believe that the international development target of universal primary education by 2015 can be achieved if four keys actions are taken:

  1. (i) a real and sustained commitment by the governments of developing countries to securing universal primary education. Donor countries and international agencies cannot provide appropriate strategic assistance if commitment is lacking locally;
  2. (ii) education needs to be properly resourced. Developing countries will need to reallocate resources away from less productive areas, like military spending. But they will also need to use education budgets more effectively, including moving public finance away from the traditional focus on tertiary education;
  3. (iii) work on primary and basic education needs to move from an approach based purely on projects towards a sector-wide approach, designed and led by developing country governments. Donors will need to work together around a focused, agreed strategy;
  4. (iv) the approach to education will need to be linked to policies on health, sanitation, livelihoods and rural transport which affect education. Governments will need to address the obstacles that prevent children from enrolling in school, as well as the reasons why so many drop out. Policies will have to be particularly focused on girls, who may face barriers of prejudice and discrimination.

We will continue to work closely with developing country governments, international agencies and civil society to promote such actions and to design and implement coherent strategies for universal primary education. Our assistance will make the greatest difference if it is designed to support governments' own anti-poverty strategies which prioritise primary education for all.