Image credit: Plan UK

How can we ensure that all children can escape poverty and have the opportunity to achieve their ambitions? And how can we stamp out poverty on a global scale? Answer: Education for all. That’s why the UK Government’s support for the Global Partnership for Education is so vital, and why your action matters.

THE ISSUE

Without an education girls, boys and communities remain trapped in a cycle of poverty. Poverty pushes children out of school and into work because parents cannot afford to educate their children.

1.2 billion people still live in extreme poverty; trying to survive on less than £1 a day. Every year, 65 of the world’s poorest countries fail to educate girls to the same standard as boys - and consequently lose over £55 billion to their economies.

Breaking this cycle of poverty depends on investments by governments, NGOs and families in children's rights and well-being, and in women's rights. Spending on education is key to this, alongside other investments, it is not only an investment in a more democratic and a more equitable society, it is also an investment in a healthier, more literate and, ultimately, more productive population.

EDUCATION IS THE SOLUTION

If all students in low-income countries acquired basic reading skills, 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty and poverty globally would decline by 12 percent.

Education not only helps individuals escape poverty by developing the skills they need to get a job, or start a business, but it also helps boost economic growth substantially.

To reduce poverty, we need to overcome inequality by improving the lives of the poorest and marginalized the most. Education is vital to achieve this goal because it can help ensure that the benefits of growth are fairly shared.

HOW INVESTING IN THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATION WILL HELP

The Global Partnership for Education is working with 66 partner countries to make sure they each have education systems that are well funded and well run. Building on the back of the success it has had in the past decade - working with 46 partner countries to get 22 million more children into school - it will apply the lessons learnt from other countries to get more children into school than ever before.

TAKE ACTION

In June, a major conference will take place, in which governments and donors will come together to invest in the Global Partnership for Education. If enough funds are raised, that will help 29 million children into education by 2018. The UK Government’s support is absolutely vital to this. As a world leader on global education, the UK will play a pivotal role in attracting other donors. Take action today to tell them why their support is so important!

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