UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
|
| UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) |
|
HDDFLASH ISSUE no. 3, June 15, 1996
Electronic newsletter and archiving service on human development issues
World Bank
Human Development Department (HDD)
e-mail: hddlink@worldbank.org
http://www.worldbank.org/html/hcovp/hdd/contents.html
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* Education For All: A Dream That Should Become A Reality
* What's New in the HDDFLASH Archive?
* World Federation of Public Health Associations
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EDUCATION FOR ALL: A Dream That Should Become A Reality
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WASHINGTON, June 11, 1996-- Most regions of the world have experienced
some progress towards education for all in the past five years. The
number of children in primary school in developing countries has increased
by 50 million, from 496 million in 1990 to 545 million in 1995. But much
remains to be done, since one out of five children aged 6-11 does not
attend school.
A statement cosigned by the World Bank President James Wolfensohn and
the directors of UNESCO, UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA points out the significant
progress that has been achieved in the past five years. But despite the
encouraging developments there is no room for complacency as long as more
than 100 million children are still out of school. More than half of these
children are girls, and decreasing these numbers requires a coordinated
international effort to ensure education for all children.
As a follow-up to the World Conference on Education for All that was held
in Jomtien, Thailand in 1990, the World Bank and the UN agencies are
convening a meeting of the 155 participating governments to review
progress towards education for all. The meeting takes place in Amman,
Jordan from June 16-19, 1996 under the guidance of the International
Consultative Forum on Education for All and will examine the results
of a worldwide review of progress in the education drive since the
1990 conference.
"The news about the progress is indeed encouraging, but we must all be
aware that there is still a long way to go," says Armeane M. Choksi,
Vice-President for Human Capital Development, who will be representing the
World Bank at the Amman meeting. "We are on the right track, but we must
continue to invest in people--and especially in education of children--if
we want to preserve the momentum.."
The best way to help developing countries catch up, is by helping them
with improving their educational systems and securing basic education
for all. "The World Bank lends $2 billion per year for education, but it
is not only a question of dollars and numbers," says Armeane M. Choksi.
"It is crucial to pay attention to the quality of education and make sure
that the learning process lives up to the required standards. The World
Bank has a dual role to fulfill both as a financier, and as an advisor."
As the world's largest single provider for education in developing
countries, the World Bank comes to the Amman meeting with a firm
commitment to continue its support for education. The Bank has given
basic education the highest priority, because it is so critical for
economic growth and reduction of poverty. As part of its contribution,
the Bank plans to continue increasing lending for education over the
next five years with special attention to girls' education.
But the problems facing many developing countries cannot be eradicated
with resources alone. Other constraints, such as political and social
conditions, the willingness of parents to send their children to school,
and the economic needs of particular families, must also be addressed if
we want to ensure that education for all is to become a reality.
At the Beijing UN Conference on Women in September 1995, Mr. Wolfensohn
emphasized how education can support economic growth-particularly when
special attention is given to girls' education. Mr. Wolfensohn committed
to achieving universal primary completion by the year 2010 and having 60
percent of all girls and boys starting secondary school.
According to World Bank estimates, per capita GDP levels would increase by
one third to one half by 2035 if developing countries could ensure that
all girls complete primary school by the year 2010 and an equal number of
boys an girls enter secondary school. It would cost about $3 billion
annually to eliminate educational discrimination in the developing world.
This is less than one quarter of one percent of developing countries' GDP.
The governments participating in the Amman meeting are facing serious
challenges as they try to cope with problems in education.
* A large group of children, one third or more in many developing
countries, do not complete primary education.
* Many of these children will join the 885 million illiterate adults, most
of whom are women.
* Secondary education is accessible to only 17 percent of children
in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The joint statement by the sponsors of the Amman conference makes clear
that a concerted effort is needed to expand and improve educational
opportunities, especially for girls and women. The signatories of the
Amman statement find it unacceptable that a world that spends about $800
billion a year on arms cannot find the money needed to put every child in
school. It would take an estimated $6 billion to accomplish that-a
decrease of less than one percent in military expenditure worldwide.
_________________________________________________________________
For more information, contact: Samuel Rachlin by e-mail:
Srachlin@worldbank.org
Information on the World Bank's work on education is available at
http://www.worldbank.org/html/hcovp/hdd/contents.html
Information on the conference can be accessed from the UNESCO website at
http://www.education.unesco.org/educprog/efa_forum/presskit/presskit.html
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WHAT'S NEW IN THE HDDFLASH ARCHIVE?
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The following are the French and Spanish version of "Mothers and Children"
volume 14: 1-2. For more information, contact:
APHA Clearinghouse,
1015 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005
tel: (202) 789-5610; fax: (202) 789-5661; e-mail: apha@apha.permanet.org
Meres et enfants, volume 14: 1-2
mcf14a -- Reseaux pour la sante de la femme
mcf14b -- Femme et technologie: nouvelles applications
mcf14c -- Programmes pour l'amelioration de la sante de la femme.
- Bangladesh Women's Health Coalition
- Palestine. Programme pour la sante de la femme
- Bresil. Campagne de lutte contre le cancer du col uterin
mcf14d -- Fonds mondial pour la femme. Femmes, resssources financieres
et autonomie
mcf14e -- Alimenter, donner les moyens ou tout simplement enseigner? Le
role des nutritionnistes communautaires
mcf14f -- Indonesie. Lutte contre anemie maternelle
Madres y Ninos, Volumen 14, Numero 1&2
mcs14a -- Formacion de redes de salud de la mujer
mcs14b -- La mujer y la tecnologia: busqueda de nuevas aplicaciones
mcs14c -- Programmas para mejorar la salud de la mujer
- Coalicion de salud de la mujer de Bangladesh
- Palestina: el programa de salud de la mujer
- Brasil: campana de control del cancer cervicouterino
mcs14d -- El Fondo Mundial para la Mujer: la mujer, el dinero y la
habilitacion
mcs14e -- Alimentar y facultar o sencillamente ensenar? Funcion del
nutritionista comunitario
mcs14f -- Indonesia: reduccion de la prevalencia de anemia materna
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WORLD FEDERATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATIONS
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World Federation of Public Health Associations
8th International Congress
Health in Transition: Opportunities and Challenges
12-16 October, 1997
Arusha, Tanzania
The World Federation of Public Health Associations announces its 8th
International Congress to be held in Arusha, Tanzania, 12-16th October
1997. The meeting will be hosted by the Tanzanian Public Health
Association.
WFPHA is a nongovernmental organization composed of national public health
associations from 48 countries around the world. WFPHA Congresses are held
every three years and are co-sponsored by WHO and UNICEF.
For further information, contact:
WFPHA Secretariat
c/o APHA
1015 15th Street, N.W. Ste. 300
Washington, DC 20005 USA
Fax (202)789-5681