The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 has a desired outcome that all countries in the world will provide quality education for all children as a key contributor to ensure a safe and productive world.
A UNESCO report summarizes recent global information on school attendance and reports that, in 2018, 258 million children are not in school. This number represents 1/5 of the global population eligible to attend primary and secondary schools settings of any kind. In addition, there are more than 125 million young children who lack basic reading and writing skills. Furthermore, it is estimated that at least 60 million children are refugees and/or “on the run” from oppression and other traumatizing issues. Their chances for success in life are less likely than their educated peers and their risk of undesirable conditions is likely to be greater.
UNESCO also hosts an eAtlas of out-of-school children with links to numerous sources of information. A listing of countries is available showing the percentage of students not in school .
We, as ambassadors for WEF-USA, have our work cut out for us to address this issue in the USA. It is also clear that collaborations among and between world educators, associations, policy makers and learning communities can and will make a difference in bridging this global, national, and humanistic divide! Together we can share challenges and successful strategies as we bring this relatively unknown issue to the forefront of our conversations and subsequent actions.
We believe that the USA should be assuring that all children are educated. Each child has a right to a quality education so they can become who they are meant to be. We never know which children will grow up with the innate interest and skills to become tomorrow’s leaders, inventors, innovative problem solvers, and perhaps the authors of world peace.
How can we not embrace the power of a quality education for every child? Won’t you join us?
Documents from UNESCO.
new-methodology-shows-258-million-children-adolescents-and-youth-are-out-school