World leaders fail to fund global learning crisis

This outcome is a failure of leaders and their duty to the millions of children who have missed out on school due to the pandemic to help protect our public health, up to 16 million of whom may never return on top of the 258 million children already denied their right to quality education.   

100 Days of Action

Ahead of the Summit, our supporters, partners, and children themselves have taken thousands of actions to get world leaders’ attention and push education to the top of their agendas, as part of the #100DaysOfAction campaign. Over 2000 child campaigners took part in activities, from hosting a chat show to online art competitions. In Kosovo, child-led group Respect our Rights met with President Vjosa Osmani to discuss the challenges faced by children when it comes to education, where President Osmani committed to support child-led initiatives.

Across Colombia, in addition to painting beautiful street murals raising awareness about education, children have met virtually with the Ministry of Education to discuss the importance of the safe return to school for all. And in Kenya, we facilitated a Children’s Summit where children met with the Ministry of Education to describe the situation of education in the pandemic context. 

Domestic education financing was the real success story of the week.    

Nineteen Heads of State from low-income countries committed to spend at least 20 percent of national budgets on education, rallying behind a political declaration on education financing led by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. The pledges of $196 billion for their own education systems over the next five years will provide sustainable financing that will provide a crucial shield against learning losses resulting from the economic impact of COVID-19. 

Kenya actioned its recommendations by dedicating 26 percent of national budget to the education sector, following advocacy for increased allocations to basic education at both national and county levels. As our recent blog sets out, 15 million children such as Akeson in Kenya were denied their right to quality education as result of the pandemic. She told us: “When the pandemic came, it was difficult learning, the schools were closed, there were no teachers. We had no alternative means of learning and I thought my dream of becoming a nurse was quashed,” she says. 

As co-host of the Summit, the UK’s role was to mobilise other donors. However, its failure to live up to its rhetoric of global education leadership yet again made the headlines yesterday. The UK pledge of just £430 million – short of the £600 million target – failed to inspire others to step up and fill the gap. In a year where it has disbanded a world class international development department, cut the aid budget, and hosted a lacklustre G7, this week’s summit casts yet more doubt on the UK’s diplomatic influence ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) which they are due to host later this year. 

Build forward better

Conflict, displacement, climate, hunger, and health crises threaten children’s right to learn today and tomorrow unless we prepare now to respond better in future. In her concluding statement, Julia Gillard, GPE Board Chair and former Prime Minister of Australia reinforced that the work is by no means done. Addressing the scale of the challenge before us will involve new donors joining the partnership, existing donors continuing to lead, and partner countries implementing their commitments.

If we are to recover from this crisis and protect education against future shocks, leaders must demonstrate political will and step-up financing to education ahead of the G20 and COP 26.