S Asia 'could do better' on education

Not enough South Asians go to school

By Elizabeth Blunt in Dakar

Government representatives from more than 180 countries and educational pressure groups have been meeting in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, for the World Education Forum.

Ten years ago in Thailand, the countries of the world pledged themselves to achieve education for all by the year 2000.

That target clearly has not been met, at least in certain parts of the world, and it is clear that the main problem areas remaining are in Africa and South Asia.

The contest for bottom place is an unenviable one, but the result depends on how you count it.

Mixed record

The poorest school enrolment and the lowest literacy levels are certainly in Africa, but because of its much greater population, South Asia has the most illiterate adults in the world, and the most children out of school.

Pakistan has the lowest rate of literacy

So the overall mark for the subcontinent clearly is - could do better.

But the variations between countries is huge.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives can reasonably claim to have achieved the targets of near universal primary education and equality of access for boys and girls.

Pakistan has the lowest adult literacy rate in the region - around 40% - and with what the World Education Forum calls a very low rate of improvement, just 0.7% a year for most of the past decade.

India

The statistics from India have been the subject of much discussion, because they vary so hugely from one part of the country to the other.

Kerala has high education standards

Kerala is very well educated, and so are parts of the north-east - perhaps, it has been suggested, because parents in those areas have been vocal and organised in demanding good schools - while standards in parts of north India are woefully low

The countries and organisations which will be funding education in future are stressing that they are delighted to fund primary education in developing countries.

But they say their money will only go to the governments which can show that they are genuinely committed to primary education, and have the policies and priorities to make it work.

The money will not go to countries which spend large sums on arms, at the expense of education, or who put most of their education budget into higher education, which largely benefits the urban elite, at the expense of primary education for the children of the rural poor.

Funds needed

The countries who hope to benefit from international assistance for education are not entirely happy at the way the donors have been talking.

Need to prioritise primary education

Both India and Pakistan have associated themselves with demands by NGOs for a global action plan as a result of the conference and funds specifically allocated to support it.

If education is simply left as part of the donors' regular aid programme, there are fears that the donor's favourite countries - the teacher's pets - of the international community, like Ghana and Uganda - will get most of the money.

And although Bangladesh or Nepal may get some funding, India and Pakistan are unlikely to qualify for much help.