Ten years after the World Conference on Education for All, the World Education Forum in Dakar provides the opportunity to take stock of the achievements, the lessons and the failures of the past decade. The most disappointing lesson is that the objectives from Jomtien have not been achieved. Yet for 125 million children the right to education is violated every day, leaving them trapped in poverty.
Girls account for two-thirds of the children out of school.
The World Education Forum provides an opportunity to deliver on the commitment to quality education for all Governments and international agencies have to make a concerted effort to mobilise political will and financial resources. The price for realising Education for All is an additional USD 8 billion a year. This amount is the equivalent of four days of global military spending and 9 minutes of international currency speculation. There must be a commitment to providing free quality basic education for all children, youth and adults. Equity in quality must be ensured at all levels.