What is the millennium development goal on education all about?
The second of the eight development goals launched at the turn of the century called for every child in the world to receive a full course of primary school education by 2015. Progress has been measured by how many children enrol in and complete primary education, and how many 15- to 24-year-olds are able to read and write. But it is unlikey this goal will be met.
In 2012, 58 million children aged between 6 and 11 were out of school. Progress since the turn of the century was made mostly before 2007, with only an additional 2 million children making it to the classroom since then.
Although there has been a slight increase in literacy among 15- to 24-year-olds, which went from 87% in 2000 to 89% in 2012, 126 million young people worldwide are still unable to read and write. It does not help that donor funding for education has been in decline since 2010. There is still a lot to be done.
