Fresh data published today in this UNESCO Education for All Global Monitoring Report policy paper shows that progress towards reducing the number of out-of-school children is stagnating: Approximately 61 million children of primary-school age were out of school in 2010, a similar number to the previous year. The paper highlights five of the many reasons governments cannot allow progress on reducing the number of out-of-school children to stall:

  • Education reduces poverty, promotes economic growth.
  • Maternal education improves children’s nutrition and chances of survival.
  • Education helps fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
  • Education promotes gender equality.
  • Education promotes democracy and participation in society.