§ 12. Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources she is devoting in her aid programmes to support for school infrastructure and equipment in sub-Saharan Africa. [123182]
§ Clare ShortWe are committed to the International Development Target of achieving universal primary education by 2015. This is the priority for our education assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa, where over the last two years we have committed over £150 million to support the development of universal primary education programmes, which include support for primary school infrastructure and equipment. Our aim is to help African countries build and sustain effective and equitable education systems which give priority to primary education for all. This requires a shift from the traditional projects-based approach to a sector-wide approach to basic and primary education, with development agencies working together around a focused, agreed strategy drawn up by the Government of the country concerned Uganda is a good example. In collaboration with five other donors and the Government of Uganda, we have played a key role in the establishment of a sector-wide approach to education, resulting in 1998 in our largest ever commitment to a programme in Africa (£67 million) towards the Education Sector Support Programme. This will provide flexible budget support to the Government for five years.