UN alarm at education crisis: 258 million kids not in school

  U.N. deputy chief said Friday re is an “alarming” crisis in education, pointing to 258 million children under of 17 who are t going to school — and only 49 percent completing secondary education.In dition, about 770 million ults are illiterate, most of m women, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told U.N. General Assembly on International Day of Education.

She said situation is “alarming,” t only because of millions who aren’t getting an education — and never did — but also “because of crisis in number of children, young people and ults who are in education, but t learning.”Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, U.N. special envoy for education, has said he continues to be “shocked” that more than 400 million children leave school for good at 11 or 12 and “800 million children are leaving education system without any qualifications worth ir name.”

U.N. goal for 2030 is to “ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.”At an event at U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Paris, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said “t only do we need massive investment, but an overhaul of educational systems is necessary.”

To rethink education and prepare coming generation to deal with major issues like digital revolution and climate emergency, Azoulay said UNESCO appointed a commission of independent experts last September led by Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde to produce a report in vember 2021 on Futures of Education.

Brown said one reason why situation is “so grave” today is that re are 75 million children in crisis-affected countries who are unable to go to school, have ir education disrupted, and don’t attain any educational standards.Yasmine Sherif, director of Education Can’t Wait which is first global fund dedicated to education in emergencies, told a news conference at U.N.: “Just think what will happen with this generation, and with all of us one day, if se 75 million children don’t access a proper, decent quality and continued education,” she said.

fund has received pledges of almost $590 million since it began three years ago and is helping youngsters in 30 conflict and crisis-affected countries from Syria and Afghanistan and Mali, Banglesh and Central African Republic, she said.

Brown, who chairs fund’s high-level steering group, said it is crucial for all levels of education. He said only a fraction of refugees — 1-3 percent — go on to higher education. compared, for example, with Syria where it was 20 percent before conflict began in 2011.

General Assembly President Tijjani Muhamm-Bande told U.N. event that “re has been an increase in school enrollment rates worldwide, with more children going to, and staying in school longer.“While this is commendable,” he said, “it is unacceptable that 20 years into 21st century about 258 million children and youth do t attend school, 617 million children and olescents cant re and do basic math and millions of refugees and internally displaced persons, and people with disabilities are out of school,” he said.

Muhamm-Bande called this “a blight” and urged governments to ensure access “to free and quality primary and secondary education, as well as affordable and inclusive vocational and technical education.”Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed said: “This international day must be a call to action ... so that quality education for all is longer a goal for tomorrow, but a reality.”

(Im Credit: Unsplash/@impatrickt/Representative Im)