§ 10. Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in providing primary education for girls in developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [164510]
Gareth ThomasAccording to the EFA Global Monitoring Report 2003–4, girls' enrolments have increased faster than those of boys over the decade to 2000. The Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) for girls' primary enrolment in developing countries has increased from 73.5 per cent. in 1990, to 78.9 per cent. in 2000. The Gender Parity Index (GPI), which measures the ratio between girls' and boys' enrolments rates, has also improved from 0.89 in 1990 to 0.93 in 2000 for primary education, thereby closing the gap in East Asia and the Pacific. Of the 128 countries for which there is data currently available (including developing countries), 81 countries have achieved gender parity in primary education.
In recognition of these statistics, DFID is planning to increase its investment in primary education up to £1 billion over the next five years, and we shall be using the UK Presidencies of the G8 and the EU in 2005 to promote girls' education in Africa.