Press release

New UK investment to improve education for millions

The UK today announces support for plans to help up to 29 million girls and boys in developing countries receive a decent education.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The UK will pledge to support the Global Partnership for Education’s plan to help up to 29 million girls and boys in developing countries receive a decent education, International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone has announced.

The investment will ensure children can attend primary and lower secondary schools, improve the quality of teaching and reduce the number of boys and girls who drop out. The new commitment will be made during the Partnership’s summit in Brussels today.

The pledge will be contingent on further improvement of the Partnership’s work and Britain expects other donors, developing countries, private companies and foundations to increase their own contributions to improving education.

Lynne Featherstone said:

Every child deserves an education and the chance to get a job to escape poverty. The UK is the biggest supporter of primary and lower secondary education in the developing world and our renewed commitment to the Global Partnership will help millions of children get the education they need.

We cannot do this alone. That is why our support is contingent on other donors, developing countries, private companies or foundations stepping-up their support for the Partnership’s important work.

The UK will commit up to £300 million to the Global Partnership for Education over the next four years. This increase is contingent on reform, support from other donors and our contribution not exceeding 15 per cent of the total amount pledged.

Notes to editors

  • Since 2002, the Global Partnership for Education has supported 46 developing countries to ensure 22 million girls and boys to go to school. Despite this progress, 57 million children remain out of school across the world and 250 million children cannot count or read despite up to four years in school.

  • Global Partnership for Education is governed by a constituency-based, 19-member Board of Directors. The UK shares a constituency with Canada. The UK is the largest donor to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), giving on average £50 million per year from 2012-2014 to support basic education in low-income and fragile and conflict-affected countries.

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Published 26 June 2014