Feature: Celebrating Education Sunday

Gillian and Natasha

As a Daughter of the Cross called by our Constitutions to ‘honour Christ by loving and serving him, above all in his weakest and most suffering members and dedicated to ending extreme poverty and hunger. All the evidence shows that education is absolutely central to ending poverty, as it, contributes to economic growth, healthier populations and more stable and equal societies. Knowing this, the Daughters of the Cross along with other religious orders have always been committed to education. We know that education is the key that will unlock the potential for millions of children around the world and is the best way to empower people to lead long, healthy and productive lives.

Sunday 16 February is dedicated by the Catholic Church to Education. Access to education is a right not a privilege, but for 57 million children it is unavailable or unaffordable. While significant progress has been made (since 1999 the number of out of school, primary aged children has fallen by 47 %), it is a sad fact that overall levels of funding for education are declining around the world and millions of children are still unable to get a quality education. The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is a partnership made up of governments, civil society, international organisations, teachers and the private sector which helps developing countries access money and expertise to achieve their education goals. It is the only global initiative devoted to getting all children in the world’s poorest countries into school for a quality education. It has an amazing track record of improving education in struggling countries eg gender parity is close to being achieved in GPE countries, while since 2000 access to primary schools in those countries rose from 38% to 58%. More children in GPE countries are accessing lower-secondary school (58% in 20111 compared with 38% in 200) and more children in GPE countries are enrolled in and completing primary school. Most crucial of all public spending on education in developing countries which are partners of the GPE is increasing.

This year GPE is seeking a major replenishment of its funds for the years 2015 – 2018, This replenishment aims to be a turning point in tackling the education crisis, getting the resources needed to achieve education for all. An ambitious and successful replenishment is critical. Pledges to the GPE Fund are needed both from developed countries in aid pledges; and of renewed commitments by developing countries to spend more money on education at home.

I am proud that the UK Government plays a crucial role in the GPE, both as the largest donor and to its contribution on the GPE’s Board of Directors. As a Daughter of the Cross I am working with RESULTS UK for information on what to do) to encourage the UK government to use its leadership position to help ensure the GPE has the funding to reach its goals. In Washington DC on 25-26 February the GPE’s Board of Directors will meet to agree the overall target for the replenishment (how much money they will agree to raise in total). This target needs to be ambitious enough to transform education for millions of the world’s poorest children. Civil society across the globe has concluded that US$4 billion will be needed (ie $1 billion per year) to achieve the transformative impact needed.

Last week Pope Francis said that ‘unjust social conditions such as poor healthcare and limited education can lead to a material, moral and spiritual destitution’. On this Education Sunday it is to be hoped that we will heed his call to action and encourage the UK government to play a leading role in setting an ambitious replenishment target and doing all that it can to bring other donors along with them to ensure every child can fulfil their right to education.

You can also e-mail Lynne Featherstone Minister for International Development, through the Global Citizens web site and ask her to use her influence to push for the ambitious target of $4b over four years at a crucial GPE meeting at the end of the month. See: www.globalpovertyproject.com/

For more information on Daughters of the Cross see: www.daughtersofthecross.org.uk