New commission to reverse lack of education financing
NEW YORK, September 23, 2015
More than 20 world leaders, including five former presidents and prime ministers and three Nobel Prize recipients, have been appointed to a new International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity to reverse the lack of financing for education around the world.
The commission, supported by the Government of Norway and Prime Minister Erna Solberg, will review the future of global education which currently leaves 124 million young people out of school, said a statement.
The selection of this diverse group of individuals comes at a crucial time when more children are out of school now than a year ago and increased conflict has forced millions of children out of the classrooms to become refugees with no prospects of education, it said.
The commission will explore how over the next 15 to 20 years, education could lead to greater economic growth, better health outcomes, and improved global security.
It is being co-convened by the Norwegian Prime Minister alongside President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, President Peter Mutharika of Malawi and the director-general of Unesco, Irina Bokova.
Gordon Brown, UN special envoy for Global Education, has been appointed chair of the commission.
"Education is key to fighting poverty, and I believe educating girls is the single most powerful investment for development. When you educate a girl, you educate a nation," said Prime Minister Solberg.
"I am confident that the Commission will play an important role in mobilizing the resources needed to achieve education for development set out for 2030 and beyond," he added.
The commission will meet on September 29 during the United Nations General Assembly to start building the economic case to inspire and persuade world leaders to action, said the statement.
In September nex year, the commission will report to the co-conveners and the secretary-general of United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, who has agreed to receive the report and act on its recommendations, it added. - TradeArabia News Service
