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Education
"MDG 2 aims to ensure that children everywhere-boys and girls-will be able to complete a full course of good quality primary schooling. MDG 3 targets to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015. Learning is implicit in all the MDGs..."1
-Koïchiro Matsuura, Director Generat of UNESCO
An international initiative called "Education for All" has been adopted and tracked especially by UNESCO and the World Bank. According to the Bank, about 77 million children, including 44 million girls, are still out of school due to financial, social or physical barriers and pressures from high fertility rates, HIV/AIDS and conflict. Access to schooling has improved over the years but at current rates, many countries will not be able to reach the education MDG of Universal Primary Completion by 2015. Moreover, "Poor learning outcomes and low quality of education remain an over-riding concern." In many developing countries, less than 60 percent of primary school pupils who enroll in first grade reach the last grade of schooling. Additionally, pupil/teacher ratios in many countries are in excess of 40:1 and many primary teachers lack adequate qualifications. (World Bank)
Students can also be active agents of change. University and graduate students and other youth can be catalysts for development efforts and at the same time advance their own academic and career programs. Their talent and enthusiasm can make valuable contributions in their own countries and internationally.
Key Facts 2
- Education and training are among the most powerful weapons in the fight against rural poverty and sustainable development, but are among the aspects of rural development interventions most neglected by national governments and by donors.
- Farmers with basic education are more likely to adopt new technology and become more productive.
- Illiteracy is much higher in rural than in urban areas.
- Access of children and youth to education is much lower in rural than in urban areas, and the quality of their education is often poorer. (UNESCO: Education for Rural People)
David Stillman with Columbia University Handicrafts Team in Madagascar
Our Response
PPAF is developing leadership programs for young people in its pilot countries as well as study abroad and internship programs for graduate students to undertake consulting or staff assignments. Youth leadership programs are focused on achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals and other issues. Study abroad and internship opportunities are aimed to be relevant to the project activities of the PPAF. Information on how to apply for an internship is available in the Volunteer section of the website.
Consulting assignment projects have included microfinance, handicrafts export, rural insurance, agricultural lending, and educational program evaluation.
The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo is a partner in course development and research related to agribusiness. Samana College Research Center, which is now being established, is a partner in several project areas including the environment and sustainable tourism.
We are working the UN Association of the Dominican Republic, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). the Columbia Business School, City University of New York, Manhattanville College, University of Toronto, University of South Florida and others. PPAF is a partner of the Three Dot Dash Initiative of the We Are Family Foundation.
1. UN Chronicle, 0407, p. 37
2. UNESCO, the United Nations Decade for Sustainable Development 2005-2014
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"The United Nations can only do its job properly with partners. We will need to forge even closer ties to civil society groups, foundations, academic institutions, the media, labour unions, and the private sector. Each has unique contributions to make."
-Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General,
Address to UNA-USA Business Council
for the UN,
New York, 10 January 2007
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PPAF's Blog: Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development
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