New Zealand exceeds fair share of basic education aid - but more still needs to be done

For immediate release
11 May 2009

To date, world leaders have spent USD2 trillion dollars on rescuing the global economy, and yet governments have failed when it comes to financing the global education crisis. It would take just USD9 billion to get every child worldwide into school - only 5 cents for every 10 dollars spent on the economy.

Save the Children's new report, Last in Line, Last in School 2009, highlights the need for governments to prioritise education aid for children affected by conflict and emergencies. This year, New Zealand has exceeded its fair share of the basic education financing requirements, following a large increase in basic education aid commitments. Only three donors have committed their fair share - the Netherlands and Norway continue to lead the way, as in previous years, along with New Zealand, which has increased its contribution from just 30% in the 2007 Last in Line, Last in School report to 120%.

However, although New Zealand's contributions are rising we can still do more to ensure that education aid reaches conflict affected fragile states (CAFS). Currently only 8% of our ODA goes to CAFS, and 37% is given to other Low-income Countries. Save the Children calls on the New Zealand Government to further increase our allocations of education and basic education aid to CAFS, and to include education as part of our humanitarian policy and response.

"Although basic education aid to those hardest to reach children affected by conflict has been slowly increasing, the current global financial crisis means education aid may now fall," said Philip Abraham, Acting Executive Director of Save the Children New Zealand. "Education aid should be even more of a priority now. As the global recession worsens, governments in the poorest countries will struggle to provide basic services, such as education, and family budgets will be hit hard."

It is estimated the financial crisis and global recession will see African economies lose up to USD49 billion by the end of this year, the equivalent of every African man, woman and children losing 10 days' income in 2009. As families' budgets in the poorest countries are squeezed, parents are being forced to make tough choices for their children.

In Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire, 33 year old Gbalia Fofana struggles to keep his three children in school, "I know that education is a right for all children including those in my family and that it should be my highest priority. But, because of the situation we are in, I have had to make my family's education my third priority. If the children are hungry, if they are sick or suffering, how can they go to school? I am doing everything I can to ensure that my daughter makes it to college."

The countries often worst hit are those countries affected by conflict, where nearly 1 in 3 children, 40 million worldwide, are out of school. African leaders have warned the recession could impact those countries affected by conflict and fragility hardest - reducing stability in the region and resulting in even less investment in basic services, including education.

Education can contribute to economic growth, reduce poverty and promote stability. Every additional year of schooling for males can reduce their risk of becoming involved in conflict by 20 percent. Without continued investment in education in countries affected by conflict, there is potential for countries to fall back into a spiral of poverty and conflict.

To read the full report please visit www.savethechildren.org.nz

ENDS

Notes to the editor:

• Last in Line, Last in School 2009 has been released as part of Save the Children's Rewrite the Future campaign, fighting for children's right to education in countries affected by conflict and emergency.

• Countries defined as conflict-affected fragile states (CAFS) are:

· Afghanistan
· Angola
· Burundi
· Cambodia
· Central Africa Republic
· Chad
· Colombia
· Republic of the Congo
· Ĉote d'Ivoire
· Democratic Republic of Congo
· Eritrea
· Ethiopia
· Guinea
· Haiti
· Iraq
· Liberia
· Myanmar (Burma)
· Nepal
· Nigeria
· Pakistan
· Rwanda
· Sierra Leone
· Somalia
· Sri Lanka
· Sudan
· Timor Leste
· Uganda
· Zimbabwe

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