Facts

International Literacy Day, 8 September, focuses attention on the rights of all to an education, and to the improved prosperity, health and security it brings. There are over 860million illiterate people in the world, of whom: 61% come from Bangladesh, China, India and Pakistan 66% are women In 41 countries, including some Central and East European nations, the numbers of children with access to primary education has actually fallen since 2000. In OECD countries, the proportion of adults with tertiary education qualifications rose from 22% to 45.6% between 1975 and 2002. Over 103.5 million primary school age children worldwide are not enrolled in school. Nearly 57% of these are girls. The literacy rate for women aged 15-24 years improved from 78 to 83% between 1990 and 2002, but eliminating gender disparity in education by 2015 is still unlikely. There is a worldwide shortage of school teachers and, according to the EFA Report 2002, an extra 15-35 million more teachers will be required to achieve universal primary education by 2015. Total aid to basic education in low-income countries almost double between 2000 and 2004. Sources: UNESCO http://uis.unesco.org/ http://www.developmentgoals.org/

Background

The Right to Education

Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit."
The right to at least a primary education is seen as so important that the United Nations gave it the second highest priority in the Millennium Development Goals, after the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger.
The importance of education is that it creates opportunities and choices for individuals, offering chances to improve standards of living while creating citizens who are skilful, well-informed and equipped to help their country achieve economic and social prosperity.

Education for All

The 1990 Conference on Education for All, in Jomtien, Thailand, pledged to achieve universal primary education by 2000. But in 2000, 104 million school-age children were still not in school, 57 percent of them were girls and 94 percent were in developing countries - mostly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Millennium Development Goals set a more realistic, but still difficult, deadline of 2015 when all children, everywhere, should be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. The steps to achieving this were outlined in the Framework for Action's following six goals:

1. Expand early childhood care and education
   A safe and caring environment and good quality early childhood care and education, both in families and formal programs, helps improve the survival, growth, development and learning potential of young children.
2. Provide free and compulsory education of good quality by 2015
   No one should be denied the opportunity to complete a good quality primary education because it is not affordable. Children should not have to travel great distances or fear for their safety getting to school. Education needs to be inclusive and flexible, supplying the needs of all learners, including those who may have to work to help in the family businesses.
3. Promote the acquisition of life-skills by adolescents and youth
   Many young people are unable to complete primary school, and need youth-friendly programs to help develop useful social and work-related skills.
4. Increase adult literacy rates by 50% by 2015
   Adult education is often overlooked and under-funded. Increasing the education of adults beyond basic literacy assists families and the general development of communities.
5. Eliminate gender disparities in education by 2005 and achieve gender equity by 2015
   Access to education for girls includes creating safe school environments, and overcoming bias in teacher and community attitudes, courses, textbooks and teaching and learning activities. Literacy is a fundamental skill which empowers women to take control of their own lives, to engage directly with authority and to access the wider world of learning. Research indicates that there is a direct, positive correlation between women's education and increasing children's chances of surviving so that they, in turn, become healthier and better educated.
6. Enhance educational quality
   A quality education satisfies basic learning needs while enriching the lives of the learners and their life experiences. Such an education requires motivated students, well-trained and supported teachers, adequate facilities, relevant curriculum, an encouraging environment, clear and accurate assessment, and recognition of local communities and cultures.

http://www.worldbank.org.cn/english/content/767h6208311.shtml