Goal 2: Universal Education

Basic primary education is central to escaping extreme poverty and fighting disease. In school, children learn how to avoid diseases such as HIV and malaria. They learn life skills that lead to productive jobs with suitable wages. In many regions, school provides a place for children to receive vaccinations and nutritional support. Educated girls marry later and have fewer children, who will then be more likely to survive with proper nourishment.

Despite the importance of education, roughly 1 in 8 children were not enrolled in primary school last decade—totaling roughly 72 million kids, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia.

Millennium Development Goal 2 aims to expand primary education to every child in every developing country worldwide.  Significant progress has been made in recent years, largely due to increased investment in education.  However, the recent economic downturn is likely to slow further advancements.

Significant investment and public donations will be needed to meet Goal 2 by 2015.

Learn how you can help.

TARGET 1: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling

In the last decade, many countries have increased national spending on education. Consequently, primary education has increased worldwide. However, significant disparities remain, and many children still lack access to vital education opportunities.

DESPITE IMPROVEMENTS, 72 MILLION CHILDREN STILL DO NOT GET SCHOOLING. In comparison, 1 in 6 children (103 million) did not attend primary school in 1999.  While sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia have made the greatest improvements, they still have the lowest rates of primary schooling.

POVERTY REDUCES ACCESS TO PRIMARY EDUCATION. Children from poor communities have lower rates of primary school enrollment—often due to school fees, transportation costs, or the need to work to raise family income.

DISCRIMINATION KEEPS MANY CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL. Many other groups still have lower rates of primary education, including females, refugee children, ethnic and religious minorities, and children with language barriers or disabilities.

ENROLLMENT RATES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL REMAIN VERY LOW. In developing nations, only half of all school-aged children attend secondary school (high school).  For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, three-quarters of high-school aged children are not enrolled, and in the Pacific Islands two of every three children are not enrolled in secondary school.