Global Experts Call for Lifelong Learning on Development Agenda

By an IPS Correspondent Reprint | | Print |

DAKAR, Mar 19 2013 (IPS) - “Inequalities limit education and learning opportunities for the most disadvantaged and excluded children.” Geeta Rao Gupta, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, told a gathering of over 100 representatives from  UN agencies, donors, academia and civil society organisations.

Speaking at a meeting in Senegal, she said:  “Girls, children with disabilities, children living in conflict zones, nomadic children and children forced to work to help their families make ends meet are among the key vulnerable groups,” she added. “We must place equity and inclusion front and centre in our post-2015 plans

The participants in the meeting agreed to put quality lifelong learning at the heart of the development agenda. Participants also mapped out ways to ensure all children, youth and adults -especially the most disadvantaged- are able to realize their right to learn.

Over the last two decades, access to education has increased with more than 50 million more children in school.  Yet, 61 million children of primary-school age are still left out and many of them live in poor communities and impoverished neighbourhoods.

The meeting, hosted by the Government of Senegal with support from the Governments of Canada and Germany and from the Hewlett Foundation, was co-organized by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The conference is part of the ‘global conversation’ to discuss development goals as the 2015 target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches.

“Education is not only a human right, it’s also an enabler for realizing other rights. We know that education is key in reducing mortality and morbidity rates; eradicating poverty and hunger; strengthening resilience to natural hazards and ending abuse, violence and armed conflict,” said Qian Tang, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education.

“Strong national ownership and leadership is vital. Education must reflect and respect cultural diversity and be relevant to national development challenges.”

The delegates also unanimously agreed that education for all remains an “unfinished agenda” and recommended further commitment from the international community, with a stronger focus on equity and quality, to shape the global development agenda beyond the 2015 deadline.

The international event in Dakar follows online discussions on the UN’s World We Want web platform and regional consultations about education with nearly 15,000 people involved around the world on the themes of equitable access to education, quality of learning, global citizenship, jobs and skills, governance and financing for education.