Today, a decade after the rallying cry of Education for All, there are still 125 million children who do not attend school. Another 150 million children of primary age start school, but drop out before they can read or write. One in four adults in the developing world - 872 million people - is illiterate, and the numbers are growing.

Sixteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa (with almost half of Africa’s 6-11 year-olds) have suffered a decline in school enrolment rates. Today, sub-Saharan Africa accounts for one-third of the total out-of-school population. On current trends, it will account for three-quarters of the total in 2015.

What can be done? Many children can not attend primary school because their parents can not afford the school fees, in countries where that is applicable, or the children are needed at thome to help supplement the family's income, or they need to tend to a sick parent or sibling. But even if the child can attend primary school, often there is a lack of educational materials, teachers and facilites. In places of poverty, childrens' futures, often their educations, are sacrificied, as demands for survival suplant childrens' chances for an education. And yet in many of these countries, education is one of the only forseable ways out of poverty, primary school education being the first step. And if you ask a child in a developing country what they want most, they will overwhelmingly answer, "SCHOOL!", with a huge smile across their faces.

Strategies are needed to not only get children in primary school, but keep them there, and give them the opportunity to learn, excel and grow, and hopefully, be able to contribute meaningfully back into their societies.

• 04/12/2007 11:32
  • 03/29/2007 10:10
  • 03/29/2007 10:08
  • 03/29/2007 10:06
  • 03/29/2007 09:52