Universal primary education by 2015

UK charities have launched a poster campaign

Every child should have access to primary education by 2015, says the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.

Presenting a report on global targets for the new millennium, Mr Annan told the UN's general assembly that this access to education must be equally available to boys and girls.

The call has been echoed by campaigners in the United Kingdom, including the charities Oxfam, ActionAid and Save the Children.

We want 'education, education, education' to become a worldwide rallying cry.

David Archer, ActionAid education director

These charities join 200 organisations in 90 countries who are also campaigning for "free, good quality basic education".

The international campaign for improved educational opportunities says that there are now 125 million children in the world who do not have a school to attend.

Arms trade

The cost of achieving universal primary education is calculated at $8bn - which is claimed to be equal to the amount spent on weapons in a week.

The UK campaign is promoting the call for education for all children with an updated version of the Conservative party's campaign poster - "Labour isn't working" - with the new version reading "Education isn't working".

"We want 'education, education, education' to become a worldwide rallying cry. We call on Tony Blair to take a global leadership role to mobilise the political will and financial resources to get all children a decent education," said ActionAid education director David Archer.