Even as there seemed to be a glimmer of hope on the horizon for many poor countries that are making tremendous strides to achieve access to education for all by 2015, there are concerns that the project may not succeed, especially in Africa due to the financing gap.
The latest Education for All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report 2010 released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has pointed out that low income countries will require a major increase in financing to achieve the second Millennium Development Goal (MDG) as set out by the United Nations.
In that regard, the report made the point that the targeted countries themselves can do a great deal to mobilize more resources for education.
“But in the absence of a step increase in aid, efforts to accelerate progress in basic education will be held back by a large financing gap,” read part of the report.
The thrust of the second MDG is that UN member states have undertaken to ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.
The report provides a detailed assessment of the costs associated with achieving some of the core EFA goals. Covered in the report, are about 46 low income countries, with respect to which the assessment includes estimates for improved coverage in early childhood programmes, universal primary education and adult literacy.
“Low income developing countries could make available an additional US$7 billion a year or 0.7% of GDP by raising more domestic resources and making national budgeting more equitable,”” said the report.
However, the UN report observes that even with an increased domestic resource mobilization effort, there will be a global EFA financing gap of around US$16 billion annually-1.5% of the GDP for the 46 countries covered.
Notwithstanding this provision, it was stated by the report that Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for around two thirds of the global financing gap, or US$11 billion. Botswana and Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states form part of the Sub-Saharan Africa.
The situation is so serious, according to the report, that the current aid to basic education for the 46 countries which amounts to US$2.7 Billion is found to fall far too short of what is required to close the gap.
As if that was not enough, “Even if donors acted on their commitments to increase aid, the financing gap will remain significant at around US$11 billion,” the report pronounced.
To highlight the gravity of the issue, an emergency pledging conference was proposed to be convened sometime this year with a view to mobilizing additional financing required to fulfill the commitment made in Dakar, Senegal.
