Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

International Day of Education

26 January 2023 · 6 other contributors · 9,229 words

Opened by Vicky Ford Con Chelmsford

Responding minister: Anne-Marie Trevelyan

EducationClimateWomen & Equalities

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Vicky Ford raised concerns about international day of education in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the impact of lack of education on children, particularly girls, in developing countries, with 222 million children needing urgent educational support.
  • Pre-pandemic, only 9% of crisis-affected early grade children achieved minimum proficiency in maths and reading.
  • The Minister highlighted the UK's commitment to global education, especially for girls, and condemned the Taliban's ban on girls returning to secondary school in Afghanistan.

Key requests to Government

I urge the Minister to continue championing the cause of girls' education at international fora and to publish the long-awaited FCDO women and girls strategy urgently. I also ask for UK leadership in providing financial support during ECW's high-level financing conference next month, ensuring Education Cannot Wait has the resources needed to deliver for children.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Vicky Ford Con Chelmsford

I am concerned about the stark impact that the lack of education has on children, particularly girls, in developing countries. Currently, an estimated 222 million children are in need of urgent educational support, with 78 million not in school or receiving any form of education. Pre-pandemic, only 9% of crisis-affected early grade children achieved minimum proficiency in maths and reading, while the World Bank research from 2019 showed that 90% of children in low-income countries could not read proficiently. Girls are disproportionately affected, with nearly two thirds of global illiteracy being made up of women. The Taliban's ban on female aid workers will mean more Afghan girls are denied their right to education.

Other contributors (6)
  • Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green

    Charalambous highlighted the staggering number of 222 million children affected by crises worldwide, emphasizing the importance of quality education for all. He cited the impact of conflicts such as Ukraine and Afghanistan, along with issues like food insecurity in Africa and climate-related disasters in the Sahel. Charalambous called for action to support girls' education globally, including a commitment from the UK Government to pledge £170 million to Education Cannot Wait.

  • Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op Harrow West

    Emphasised the importance of girls' education and praised previous government investments. Raised concerns about recruitment difficulties for headteachers and teachers in Harrow, particularly in maths, science, and humanities. Highlighted a pay discrepancy between inner London and outer London teachers and called for more funding for special needs education. Suggested investment in teaching Asian languages to support future trade relations with India.

  • Harriett Baldwin Con West Worcestershire

    Welcomed the debate on ensuring every child receives a quality education, highlighted the importance of providing education for refugee children and girls in Afghanistan. Emphasised the need for continued UK leadership in Education Cannot Wait funding and praised local schools for welcoming Ukrainian refugees. Will my right hon. Friend commit to writing to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to make the point that the money for Ukrainian refugee children in the UK is not necessarily following that child if they move to a new school? The MP highlighted the current situation in Afghanistan and expressed concern about the Taliban's decision to prevent girls from returning to secondary school. She also noted that more than half of the 244 million children out of school around the world are girls.

  • Helen Grant Con Maidstone and Malling

    I am honoured to be the Prime Minister's special envoy for girls' education, championing the message that providing quality education for every girl is crucial. The pandemic has disrupted 1.6 billion learners at its peak in 2020, creating a global funding gap of $200 billion annually. Many girls are now at risk of never returning to or starting school, increasing their likelihood of violence and early marriage. We need to work together to stop the creation of a lost generation of girls.

  • Grant Con Maidstone and The Weald

    The MP spoke about the G7 Foreign Ministers' statement and UK's national statement, advocating for getting 40 million more girls into school and 20 million more girls reading by the age of 10 by 2026. She also mentioned the innovative partnership between Government and major global businesses to support girls' education.

  • Patricia Gibson SNP North Ayrshire and Arran

    The MP highlighted the importance of education as a human right, emphasizing its role in peace and development. She noted that 244 million children and youth are out of school globally, with 771 million adults illiterate. Patricia Gibson particularly focused on the situation in Afghanistan, where 2.5 million girls and young women have been denied schooling since the Taliban took control.

Government Response

Anne-Marie Trevelyan

The Minister highlighted the UK's commitment to global education, particularly for girls. Over five years from 2015, UK aid supported more than 15 million children, including 8 million girls, to benefit from a decent education. She condemned the Taliban's decision to prevent girls from returning to secondary school and women from universities in Afghanistan. The Government pledged $4 billion at the global education summit hosted by the UK in London, aimed at getting 40 million more girls into school and 20 million more girls reading by the age of 10 by 2026. She also discussed the impact of climate change on children's education and the importance of helping developing countries adapt to climate shocks. The Minister mentioned ongoing initiatives such as the Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait, UK Girls' Education Challenge, and a new international finance facility for education.

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