The European year for development: Education

Access to quality education is essential for development. Not only does education provide children, youth and adults with the knowledge and skills to be active citizens and to fulfil themselves as individuals, literacy in particular contributes directly to poverty reduction. It has been estimated that global poverty could drop by 12% if all children in low income countries could read. Education also contributes to sustainable economic growth and to more stable and accountably societies and governments. Yet education cannot be seen in isolation: it is closely related to children’s health, gender equality, human rights (particularly those of children and minorities), peace and employment opportunities. The European Parliament (EP) has regularly called for 20% of EU aid expenditure to be devoted to basic social services – primary health care and basic education. The EP has also insisted on devoting special attention to vulnerable groups and those at risk of social exclusion. In regularly calling for gender equality in education, the Parliament recognises that girls’ education yields some of the highest returns of all development investments.

Written by Manuel Manrique Gil (Directorate-General for External Policies). Graphics and statistics by Eulalia Claros (European Parliamentary Research Service).

ESO: Background information: European Year for Development 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-european-year-for-development-2015/

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