Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, attends today the Global Partnership for Education Conference in Dakar, Senegal and calls on global leaders to step up their investment in education.
Leaders from donor and developing countries are expected to commit to substantially increase their financing to accelerate progress towards achieving quality education for all.
Commissioner Mimica calls on the international community to reverse the current trend of declining financing for education:
“I am pleased to see so many political, corporate, philanthropic and civil society leaders here in Dakar to make the Global Partnership for Education stronger. Investing in quality education is key for addressing various sustainable development challenges, including health, sustainable growth, job creation and long-term peace and stability. I proudly recall the European Union’s early commitment to the GPE replenishment and invite all leaders to join us in shaping a better future while leaving no one behind.”
The EU’s announcement in December 2017 to replenish the Global Partnership for Education with an additional €100 million is a clear sign of EU’s determination to help ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, thus contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals achievement. This announcement came on top of €375 million already committed in 2014.
Through EU support, the GPE managed to achieve that:
- 72 million more children were in primary school in 2015 compared with 2002.
- 76% of children in GPE partner countries completed primary school in 2015 compared to 63% in 2002.
- The primary school completion rate for girls went up to 74% in 2015 compared to 57% in 2002.
- 78% of GPE partner countries maintained or increased their education budget at or above 20% of public expenditure in 2015.
Original source: European Commission
Published on 1 February 2018
