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[5 June 2008] - Up to 500 times more is spent on the education of a child born in a stable, prosperous country than on the education of a child born in a conflict-affected country, Save the Children said as it called for more resources to educate children in areas of war and conflict. In the United States, over $9,000 is spent per child on primary education per year. In Luxemburg, about $12,000 is spent annually per child for primary education. In contrast, less than $24 is spent each year on a child’s education in countries such as Eritrea and Burundi. While donor nations can play an important role in helping children in conflict-affected countries have access to school, Save the Children released a new report, “Last in Line, Last in School 2008,” showing that most rich governments are failing to support education in countries that have been wracked by war and conflict. The new report estimates that of the $9 billion basic education aid needed worldwide, $5.2 billion should support children living in conflict-affected fragile states - or approximately $45 per school-age child. Although the number of out-of-school, primary-age children in the world has dramatically fallen from 100 million to 72 million in recent years, the situation in conflict-affected countries has seen little improvement. These countries are home to half of all the children out of school worldwide (37 million out of 72 million children) - yet they receive less than one-fifth of basic education aid. “Experience shows that even in the most challenging contexts, it is possible to deliver education,” says Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children, based in Westport, Conn. “However, the majority of the donors and multilateral organisations are not currently providing adequate funding for education in conflict-affected countries. In fact, if we do not increase investment for education in these countries, we will not meet the Millennium Development Goal of ensuring the education of every child by the year 2015.” Despite conflict-affected countries having the most children out of school, donor nations are prioritising education aid to more stable countries - leaving countries most in need with little hope of breaking the cycle of poverty and violence. Education is crucial to economic development, poverty alleviation and stability. In the short-term it can help protect children and support conflict resolution; in the long term it lays the foundation for healthier, more productive and better governed societies. “One of three children is currently out of school in conflict-affected countries,” says Charles MacCormack. “Providing children with access to education can help alleviate poverty and reduce the risks of perpetual conflict. Let’s keep our promise for education for all children, regardless of where they live.” The “Last in Line, Last in School 2008” report is part of Save the Children’s Rewrite the Future campaign, which advocates for the 37 million children who cannot go to school because of conflict in their countries. Further information
pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/RTF-last-in-line-donors-can-support.pdf