§ 22. Charlotte AtkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress the Government are making towards their goal of ensuring that all children benefit from primary education. [127760]
§ Clare ShortWe are making good progress in helping developing countries achieve the international development target of universal primary education (UPE) by 2015. But much remains to be done; it is unacceptable226W that in the year 2000 more than 113 million children, a large majority of whom are girls and those from socially vulnerable groups, have no access to primary education.
The bulk of spending on education by most developing countries remains directed to higher education. The reason is that elites are powerful in very poor countries. It is difficult political task to get a commitment to spending on the poorest children in rural areas. We are working hard on this task through the international system, and by contributing more funds. We have committed £300 million over the past three years to UPE programmes and will do more. We are working to persuade governments and their civil societies to prioritise the education of poor children. Progress is being made and we need sustained interest through to 2015.
Our strategy for achieving the UPE target is set out in the Department for International Development's consultation document "Education for All: The Challenge of Universal Primary Education". Copies are available in the House of Commons Library.