"Education is the answer to everything."
-Stephen Lewis
By 2015, the U.N. wants to achieve universal primary school education. As of now, 150 million drop out of primary school after five years or less. These children are considered "illiterate" since 5 years is the amount of time it takes to achieve basic literacy. So...133 million "young people" cannot read or write. (I'm sort of cheating...this information is what we handed out at our meeting today, and I have a copy of it in front of me).
If one generation completes primary education--or secondary!--than the next generation is likely to as well. This, at least, what people are claiming. I think it makes sense. If parents believe that education can take you somewhere, they are likely to encourage their children to get an education.
The United Nations has 3 other development goals: sustainable development, health, and poverty (I always think it should be "eradicate poverty," since just saying "poverty" sounds like you are trying to create it rather than eliminate it). I think education ranks aboce these, in some ways, because with a strong education, you are more likely to be able to solve problems. Not that educating the whole world means there will be no more problems...
The club officers after School-in-Action night last spring...
