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| A dilapidated school building |
UN special envoy urges int’l
community to tackle education crisis
United Nations
(UN) Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown has called on the
international community to take action to tackle an emerging education crisis.
(UN) Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown has called on the
international community to take action to tackle an emerging education crisis.
Elaborating on the
education crisis, Brown, also former British Prime Minister, said that half the
developing world’s children, who total about 800 million, are leaving school
without qualifications.
education crisis, Brown, also former British Prime Minister, said that half the
developing world’s children, who total about 800 million, are leaving school
without qualifications.
“There are
probably 30 million refugee children, more than 23 million displaced children,
and 75 million children living in conflict zones,” he added.
probably 30 million refugee children, more than 23 million displaced children,
and 75 million children living in conflict zones,” he added.
He noted that the
majority of them were either not in education or in only very irregular
schooling.
majority of them were either not in education or in only very irregular
schooling.
Brown who is also
chairman of the Education Cannot Wait Fund, said it is important to give them
hope that they can prepare and plan for the future.
chairman of the Education Cannot Wait Fund, said it is important to give them
hope that they can prepare and plan for the future.
“If we do nothing,
we will leave a generation of discontented, angry young men and women.
we will leave a generation of discontented, angry young men and women.
“The streets of
the Middle East and the streets of Africa will be full of uneducated and
unemployed young people.
the Middle East and the streets of Africa will be full of uneducated and
unemployed young people.
“We have all got
to come together as a coalition under Education Cannot Wait,” the first global
fund dedicated to education in emergencies and protracted crisis, Brown said.
to come together as a coalition under Education Cannot Wait,” the first global
fund dedicated to education in emergencies and protracted crisis, Brown said.
Education Cannot
Wait is a new global fund to transform the delivery of education in
emergencies, one that joins up governments, humanitarian agencies and
development efforts to deliver a more collaborative and rapid response to the
educational needs of children and youth affected by crises.
Wait is a new global fund to transform the delivery of education in
emergencies, one that joins up governments, humanitarian agencies and
development efforts to deliver a more collaborative and rapid response to the
educational needs of children and youth affected by crises.
The international
non-governmental organisation aims to reach all crisis-affected children and youth
with safe, free and quality education by 2030.
non-governmental organisation aims to reach all crisis-affected children and youth
with safe, free and quality education by 2030.
“We have got to
raise the money that is necessary to ensure that we can actually see, as we
say, in the Sustainable Development Goals, that every child, refugee child,
displaced child, every single boy and girl is going to have the chance of an
education,” said the special envoy.
raise the money that is necessary to ensure that we can actually see, as we
say, in the Sustainable Development Goals, that every child, refugee child,
displaced child, every single boy and girl is going to have the chance of an
education,” said the special envoy.
Brown said that
the fund was now working in a large number of countries.
the fund was now working in a large number of countries.
“It’s been a first
responder, most recently in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.
responder, most recently in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.
“It’s been one of
the first to act in Bangladesh. It’s dealing with the crisis in the Sahel
(region).”
the first to act in Bangladesh. It’s dealing with the crisis in the Sahel
(region).”
Brown also
suggested a world Bank for education be created.
suggested a world Bank for education be created.
“If we do not
invest in young people in Asia or in the Middle East or in Africa, and do not
deal with young people given the circumstances they’re facing, which is
sometimes child labour, sometimes child marriage, sometimes child trafficking,
if we don’t deal with these grievances, then we will have an unstable as well
as unsustainable and unequal world for the years to come.
invest in young people in Asia or in the Middle East or in Africa, and do not
deal with young people given the circumstances they’re facing, which is
sometimes child labour, sometimes child marriage, sometimes child trafficking,
if we don’t deal with these grievances, then we will have an unstable as well
as unsustainable and unequal world for the years to come.
“People can
survive many days without food, but cannot survive a minute without hope.
survive many days without food, but cannot survive a minute without hope.
“Let’s join forces
to help those vulnerable children without access to education, and inject hope
in them.”
to help those vulnerable children without access to education, and inject hope
in them.”