Gordon Brown calls for Global Fund for Education

 

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
From the blogs

The ugly face of TV: How Jeremy Clarkson brought facial prejudice to a head

If you saw someone with a facial disfigurement walking down the street, would you A) Laugh at them B...

Atlantic Odyssey: Exclusive first hand account of how a world record attempt ended in near disaster

Writing exclusively for The Independent, Mark Beaumont recounts the incredible events that saw an at...

Stacking shelves won’t help career progression

Over the last week, we have seen a series of dodgy manoeuvres by the government regarding unpaid ret...

Is catastrophic global warming, like the Millenium Bug, a mistake?

"The whole idea of climate being one number driven by another number is nutty." Prof Richard Lindzen...

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has called for the creation of a worldwide fund to combat a "hidden and silent emergency in education".

In a new report, Mr Brown says he wants an independent Global Fund for Education to raise £13 billion a year and help achieve the United Nations' goal of universal primary education by 2015.

He claims progress towards that aim has stalled in recent years, with 68 million children of primary school age not in formal education.

Mr Brown wrote: "In the midst of our increasingly knowledge-based and interconnected global economy, millions of children in the world's poorest countries are out of school.

"Millions more are in school, but receiving an education of such abysmal quality that they are unlikely to gain even the most basic literacy and numeracy skills.

"Yet there is overwhelming evidence that disadvantage in education costs lives, undermines economic growth, fuels youth unemployment, and reinforces national and global inequalities."

All 193 United Nations member states are signed up to a Global Millennium Goal for primary school education to be accessed by every child by 2015, agreed at the New York Millennium Summit in 2000.

In the current funding set-up, countries with the biggest out-of-school populations, such as Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, are not eligible for grants from the World Bank's Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

Despite being the leading worldwide education fund, the GPE recently failed to raise a pledges target of 2.5 billion US dollars (£1.6 billion) over three years and has been criticised for a lack of flexibility in allocating grants.

It contrasts with the performance of worldwide health funds such as the Global Fund to fight HIV/Aids, Malaria and TB, which has approved grants of 22 billion US dollars (£14 billion) since 2002.

The Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB was created by the World Health Organisation but has flourished since becoming an independent body.

Mr Brown believes an independent fund for education would be an equally effective "game-changer" capable of engaging the business community.

The MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath also claims an independent body would be better suited to attract "non-traditional donors" with booming economies such as China, Russia or Brazil.

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Can we pull the plug on the plug?

Can we pull the plug on the plug?

Wireless power is beginning to surge its way into homes, businesses and garages
The 10 Best Lecture Series

The 10 Best Lecture Series

From Intelligence Squared - possibly the world's premier debating forum - to the ICA Talks
Still making a big noise: A season of Michael Frayn plays is set to reaffirm the brilliance of his work

Michael Frayn: Still making a big noise

A season of Frayn's plays is set to reaffirm the brilliance of his work
'You could have a job like mine': How successful alumni can inspire pupils

How successful alumni can inspire pupils

Hilary Wilce sees an innovative scheme in action at a London comprehensive
The tuition paradox: You pay more money, you get less choice

The tuition paradox

You pay more money, you get less choice
The rivals: Canberra's political hate story

The rivals: Canberra's political hate story

Six years ago, Kevin Rudd was ousted as Australian PM by former ally Julia Gillard. Is he about to get his revenge?
Menswear finds its swagger to escape role as poor relation of British fashion

Menswear finds its swagger...

... and escapes role as poor relation of British fashion
'There was someone who needed it...' 60 lives, 30 kidneys, all linked in longest donor chain

60 lives, 30 kidneys, all linked in longest donor chain

Organ donation to stranger starts an amazing series of events across 11 US states
The ad that only plays to women: the future of marketing or useless gimmick?

The ad that only plays to women

The future of marketing or useless gimmick?
Sam Wallace: Chelsea's class of 2012 fail to make the grade

Sam Wallace

Chelsea's class of 2012 fail to make the grade
Lewis Moody: My five ways England can bring down the red curtain

Lewis Moody column

My five ways England can bring down the red curtain
Picture preview: Charline von Heyl, Tate Liverpool

Charline von Heyl, Tate Liverpool

Picture preview
Slow progress in Christchurch one year after quake

Christchurch a year on

Residents mark the first anniversary of the earthquake
Niceness rocks! Ballads take centre stage at the Brits

Niceness rocks!

Ballads take centre stage at the Brit Awards
Robert Fisk: 'If only hague and clinton would listen to yusuf islam'

Robert Fisk

'If only Hague and Clinton would listen to Yusuf Islam'