I am pleased to convey my greetings to the International Commission on Financing Global Education. I thank all the Commissioners for your commitment to the goal of helping children and young people all over the world to get a quality education.

Millions of children are unable to access learning opportunities. This is a frustration for them and a terrible waste of human capital for their communities and societies. Every child and young person should be able to develop their abilities and use their talents.

More than this, education has a key role in all our development goals.

As we move into 2016, we celebrate the successful agreement on the Sustainable Development Agenda last September and begin the task of implementing the SDGs. Goal 4, on inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities, will act as a springboard for achieving the other goals.

But there are challenges to achieving it, including adequate finance.

The International Commission on Financing Global Education will offer solutions to mobilizing the resources that are needed. I look to the Commission to provide a roadmap, based on innovative, sustainable and practical solutions, to overcome the barriers to lifelong education and learning for all.

I look forward to receiving your proposals in September, and acting on them. The whole UN system, led by UNESCO as the mandated lead for SDG 4, together with the World Bank, will work with Member States, civil society, teachers’ organizations and the Global Partnership for Education to take forward your recommendations.

I thank the Commission and in particular, the five conveners: Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway, President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, President Peter Mutharika of Malawi and the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, for their vital work on the Commission and steadfast commitment to Education and the SDGs.

I thank the UN Special Envoy for Education, Gordon Brown for his leadership in the Commission and in our collective efforts to ensure education and lifelong learning for all.

Thank you and I wish you a successful meeting.