A Primer on Basic Education

 

More kids are in school.

§         Since the 1950s, the number of children in primary school has more than tripled, from 206 million in 1950 to 680 million in 1998. Literacy rates have risen 50% since the 1960s.

§         During the 1990s, the mean primary completion rate in developing countries improved from 68% to 73%.

 

However, millions remain out of school.

§         Approximately 115 million primary school-age children are not in school—more than the total number of primary-age children in school in the United States, Europe, and other more developed countries.

§         In the least developed countries, 40% of children who enroll in primary school do not complete five years, the minimum required for basic literacy. Only one-quarter of all boys and 14% of girls enroll in secondary school.

 

The United Nations sets the goal of universal primary education by 2015.

§         In 1990, the UN set a goal of getting all children access to primary education by 2000. Having failed to meet that goal, the UN and the G-8 have now set the goal of getting every child in school by 2015.

§         The Millennium goals also include reaching gender equity in education by 2015.

 

Universal access to basic education is critical, but will we get there?

§         The World Bank estimates that an additional $2.5–5 billion in annual international assistance is needed to reach the goal of enrolling all children in primary school in the 47 countries representing 75% of children not in school.

§         Of 155 developing countries, 66 countries have achieved or are on track to achieve universal primary education by 2015.

§         According to a recent World Bank report, 60 countries are not on track and 29 countries are seriously off track to reach the 2015 goal.

§         At current rates of growth and investment, 100 million children will still be out of primary school by 2015.

 

How is basic education funded?

§         Globally, around 63% of the cost of education is carried by governments. The second largest contribution, at 35%, comes from the private sector (pupils, parents, employers, NGOs, and private business). The final 2% comes from international assistance.

 

What is the United States doing to promote basic education?

§         The U.S. spends approximately $200 million to support basic education in all developing countries, only $1.75 for every child out of school. By comparison, the public school budget for Maryland’s Montgomery County schools is $1.3 billion, or $8,700 per student.

§         Of the development assistance budget, only 6% is for basic education.

 

Why is Basic Education So Important?

 

 

Education is essential for economic growth.

§         Education leads to increased productivity, income, and self-reliance. An adult with a primary education earns twice as much as an adult without any schooling.

§         Economists have long recognized that an 80% literacy rate and near universal primary education are prerequisites for substantial economic growth.

§         Heavy investment in primary education has been found to be the single most important factor accounting for differences in growth rates between East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

§         According to the National Intelligence Council, education will be the determinative of success in 2015 at both the individual and country levels. The global economy and technological change place an increasing premium on a more highly skilled labor force.

 

Education helps save lives and improve health.

§         Educated women marry later, and have fewer children and better prenatal care. Their children have higher survival rates, better health and nutrition, and are more likely to succeed in school.

§         An additional one to three years of mother’s schooling is associated with a 20% decline in the risk of childhood death.

§         The World Bank has found that every year of female education beyond grade 4 leads to up to a 10% decrease in family size.

 

Education is one of the most effective preventative weapons against HIV/AIDS.

·        In 17 African and 4 Latin American countries studied, educated girls have significantly lower risk of HIV infection.

·        More than 40% of women without education have no knowledge of HIV/AIDS, compared to 8% of women with post-primary education.

 

Education is the building block for development.

§         A farmer with just four years of education is 9% more productive than one with no education. He or she is more likely to understand the causes and treatment of crop diseases and how to introduce new farming techniques.

§         Access to quality education is one of the best ways to prevent child labor, trafficking in children, and child soldiers.

 

Education promotes democracy and stability.

§         An educated citizenry that is capable of making informed decisions, voicing opinions, and holding elected officials responsible is essential for democracy to survive and flourish.

§         Countries with higher rates of secondary schooling have experienced greater political stability and more democratic rights, based on Freedom House indices and World Bank data.