Universal education reduces global poverty
Students across the United States have returned to school. However, this year more than 100 million children around the world will not have a chance to go to school. That is double the number of primary school children in the entire United States. Three-fifths are girls.
In the past, world leaders have acknowledged the value of education and pledged to invest in it. In 2000, 189 countries agreed to guarantee universal primary education by the year 2015. From Sept. 14-16, these leaders reunited and evaluated the progress that has been made. We are already falling off track for these targets. This is an issue that no one can ignore. Not only does education teach people to read, write and think, it also promotes economic growth.
Countries with better economies are not only less dependent on foreign aid but provide new markets for American business. Through the NetAid Global Citizen Corps, a program that empowers young Americans to fight global poverty, I am working with a coalition of students from around the country to mobilize communities to lobby for universal primary education. Throughout the year, we will work in our communities to raise awareness about global poverty.
Bita Emrani
Greensboro
Comments (2)
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One big question. Who do you plan on paying for all this education?
Posted on October 4, 2005 3:43 PM
"Countries with better economies are not only less dependent on foreign aid but provide new markets for American business."
Well who says they are entitled to foreign aid?
and if they do "get" it - I hope it's not me tax cash, because there is zero confidence it will go anywhere but to the leaders swiss account - haven't we seenthat time and time and time and time again? We need to be thinking a bit more creatively.
"Students across the United States have returned to school." It is troubling that "more than 100 million children around the world will not have a chance to go to school.", but here in this country the ones that are "forced" to go terat it like the plague - something to be avoided at all costs.
I wonder if it is a similar phenom' to the primary cause of business failures: the careless harum-scarum behaviour of the generation taking over what Daddy worked so hard to achieve.
Posted on October 5, 2005 5:33 PM