Joint efforts should be made to further push forward education for all, and to better aid underdeveloped countries in educational programs.

This was the consensus reached by delegates to the 5th High Level Group Meeting on Education For All of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO), which concluded here Wednesday.

In a communique issued as a result of the meeting, delegates held that the enrollment rate in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa should be doubled and quadrupled, respectively, in order to achieve the goal of providing all children with high-quality education by 2015.

According to a worldwide report, the enrollment rate for children of school age was only 64 percent in Africa, 83 percent in south Asia and west Asia. Delegates believed the current work to educate children is not adequate despite the progress already made.

The communique also said there are still 100 million children who cannot receive education, and 771 million adult illiterates as well. Most adult illiterates are women or live in rural areas.

At least five billion more US dollars should be put into universal education programs, with all donator countries doubling their international aid and attaching much importance to primary education, said the communique.

During the three-day meeting, some delegates pointed out that developing countries at present put only six billion US dollars out of 62.3 billion government aiding fund in educational sector.

In poor countries with lower national incomes, investment in primary education has actually lowered to 1.2 billion US dollars.

The communique advocated that all countries put more focus on education to female children, literacy work and rural education. Breakthroughs in literacy work on global demands need an annual investment of 2.5 billion US dollars.

The communique also called for mobilizing all international communities to work together to achieve the goal of giving free compulsory education to all children by 2015. A special working team established at this meeting will help fight for the right of education of child laborers.

Delegates to the meeting also suggested that a report on promissory donations by donor countries be submitted to the UNESCO by the end of March next year.

The 6th UNESCO High Level Group Meeting on Education For All will be held in November next year in Egypt.

Source: Xinhua