by Jeffrey Allen, OneWorld U.S.

This could be one of the most significant announcements in the world...ever. Sure, it sounds like hyperbole, but give me a second to explain, and see if you don't agree.

© Teachers Without Borders

The UK government announced today that it will inject a major amount of cash into the world's effort to get every child into school by the year 2015, spending at least $15bn over the next 10 years on global education. That's a four-fold increase of its commitment over the past decade, and nearly two-and-a half times what NGOs estimate to be their fair share of the global bill for education.

At the same time, the UK is appealing to the rest of the world's wealthy countries to foot their shares of the bill. For a grand sum of $10bn per year, it is estimated that the world could provide education for every child in every continent. If the UK can come up with $1.5bn per year, it seems the rest of the world should be able to find another $8.5bn.

Learning to write. © Teachers Without Borders

And what a coup that would be! According to UK Treasurer Gordon Brown, for every additional year of a child's education in the poorest countries, average earnings rise by 11 percent, and for each additional year of a mother's education, childhood mortality is reduced by 8 percent. (See his op-ed in today's Independent.)

Indeed, developing a country is a massive, complex, longterm process that can only be measured over decades. But there is no single better way to improve a child's future, a country's future, or the world's future than to invest in education now. Health care, jobs, environmental conservation, democracy, equality, political stability, tolerance, hope...everything else follows from it.

© Teachers Without Borders

It's a fairly simple equation. The world needs about 15 million more trained teachers by 2015. It also needs more schools and more books. Training, salaries, buildings, supplies...it all costs money. About $10bn per year more than what's currently being spent.

The problem is, poor countries--where the money is needed most--can't afford it. But rich countries can, and if they're serious about helping poor countries build toward economic prosperity and all the great things that go along with it (including self-reliance), then one would think they would ante up.

The $10bn breaks down this way, based on countries' overall economic strength (Gross National Income):

• United States: $3.9 billion
• Japan: $1.5 billion
• Germany: $800 million
• UK: $660 million
• France: $630 million
• Italy: $520 million
• Canada: $310 million

If the UK announcement really turns out to be just the first domino, and if other countries follow suit with their fair share of the money, it's not unthinkable that almost every child around the world could be in a classroom 10 years from now. Think of what that would mean for the world 25 years from now!

--------------------------------

The Basic Education Coalition is an umbrella group of 19 of the most prominent international development NGOs in the U.S. For more on how education impacts every aspect of life as well as success stories from around the world, check out their Web site.

Action week is April 24-30.

The Global Campaign for Education, an umbrealla group of NGOs and teachers unions in over 150 countries around the world, is organizing their annual global action week at the end of April. If your organization wants to get involved, check out out their action center for all the info.



Another U.S.-based group doing great work on teacher training and community education worldwide is Teachers Without Borders. Teachers, students, or others wishing to get involved with their work can find out more at their Web site.