§ 25. Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to link development aid to the provision of education to girls and women. [79128]
§ Clare ShortWe made clear in our White Paper in November 1997 that we are strongly committed to the international goals of universal primary education by 2015 and gender equity in primary and secondary education by 2005.
236WIn our bilateral programme we are supporting Governments that give priority to the education of girls and women. We have committed over £200 million to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and our largest ever single education commitment of £67 million for Uganda.
We are also working in the multilateral agencies to increase the commitment to girls' and women's education.
These and new programmes being developed reflect strong international evidence that investment in the education of girls is the single most effective way to reduce poverty.