Low funding may render universal education goal impossible- UNESCO

pix source: slate.com

The United Nation Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization in a report released states that, aids to low-income countries for education must be increased five times its current contribution to meet sustainable development goals(SDGs).

 

Donors are required to spend up to $10.6bn on education in low income countries, while middle-income counties will require $11.8bn to be spent on education in order to meet SDGs target.

 

According to World Banks' definition, low income countries are states having their gross national income (GNI) per capita of $1,035 or less, and low middle-income contries as states with GNI per capita ranging  between $1,036bn to $4,085bn.

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) as will be decided upon later in 2015 aims at sending all children to school for a minimum of 10 years, with quality childhood development programmes. The objective is to reduce and in the long run put an end to the rates of drop outs, in primary and junior levels of secondary schools. It also targets an improved quality of learning by recruiting qualified teachers and cutting down class size.

 

The reports projects that unless $22 billion annual funding requirement is met, SDGs may not be realized. "without a doubt, sustainable new development is needed if the world is to achieve the key educational targets of the post 2015 sustainable development agenda.

The report clarions on an increased attention be given to financing educational targets in forward to the UN's international conference, July 13th in Addis Ababa. The Un's special envoy for global education, Gordon Brown also called for more funding to aid education in low-income countries.