World leaders have pledged over $4 billion to support education initiatives through the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). This commitment was announced during a summit hosted by the UK and Kenya. Despite this significant contribution, some charities argue that recent UK aid cuts have hindered fundraising efforts.
The GPE, which allocates funds across more than 90 low-income countries, aimed to raise $5 billion to create 88 million new school places and enhance the education of 175 million children over the next five years. Key contributions included £595 million from the European Union, £430 million from the UK, £300 million from Norway, £173 million from Canada, and $218 million over three years from the United States.
Julia Gillard, former Australian prime minister and chair of the GPE, expressed confidence that the full $5 billion target would eventually be met, although disbursements would occur in stages due to differing national budget cycles. She emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted education worldwide, with poorer countries bearing the brunt due to limited access to internet and electricity.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the initiative, stating that investing in education is crucial for combating ignorance and prejudice and for boosting the economies of developing nations. He highlighted the importance of improving education access, particularly for girls, as a universal solution to many global issues.
However, charities like Save the Children and the One anti-poverty campaign criticized the UK’s aid cuts, arguing that they have diminished the country’s global leadership and credibility. Gabriela Bucher, executive director of Oxfam, questioned global priorities, pointing out the stark contrast between billionaires investing in space travel and millions of children lacking access to education.
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai underscored the importance of investing in girls’ education, citing a global crisis with over 130 million girls out of school and many more at risk due to the pandemic. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta emphasized that the fundraising event could prevent an educational catastrophe, while Kenyan education campaigner Angel Mbuthia highlighted the broad benefits of education, including improved health, reduced youth unemployment, and gender equality.
Mbuthia stressed the need for global cooperation, arguing that education initiatives must address international issues such as refugees, COVID-19, and climate change, as these challenges transcend national borders.
