These countries receive less than one-fifth of basic education aid, yet are home to half of the world’s out-of-school children.

Washington, D.C. (June 3, 2008) — Up to 500 times more is spent on the education of a child born in a stable, prosperous country than on the education of a child born in a conflict-affected country, the humanitarian organization Save the Children noted today as it called for more resources to educate children in areas of war and conflict.

In the United States, over $9,000 is spent per child on primary education per year. In Luxemburg, about $12,000 is spent annually per child for primary education. In contrast, less than $24 is spent each year on a child’s education in countries such as Eritrea and Burundi.

While donor nations can play an important role in helping children in conflict-affected countries have access to school, Save the Children today released a new report, “Last in Line, Last in School 2008,” showing that most rich governments are failing to support education in countries that have been wracked by war and conflict. 

The new report estimates that of the $9 billion basic education aid needed worldwide, $5.2 billion should support children living in conflict-affected fragile states — or approximately $45 per school-age child.

Although the number of out-of-school, primary-age children in the world has dramatically fallen from 100 million to 72 million in recent years, the situation in conflict-affected countries has seen little improvement. These countries are home to half of all the children out of school worldwide (37 million out of 72 million children) — yet they receive less than one-fifth of basic education aid.

“Experience shows that even in the most challenging contexts, it is possible to deliver education,” says Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children, based in Westport, Conn. “However, the majority of the donors and multilateral organizations are not currently providing adequate funding for education in conflict-affected countries. In fact, if we do not increase investment for education in these countries, we will not meet the Millennium Development Goal of ensuring the education of every child by the year 2015.”

Despite conflict-affected countries having the most children out of school, donor nations are prioritizing education aid to more stable countries — leaving countries most in need with little hope of breaking the cycle of poverty and violence. Education is crucial to economic development, poverty alleviation and stability. In the short-term it can help protect children and support conflict resolution; in the long term it lays the foundation for healthier, more productive and better governed societies.

“One of three children is currently out of school in conflict-affected countries,” says Charles MacCormack. “Providing children with access to education can help alleviate poverty and reduce the risks of perpetual conflict. Let’s keep our promise for education for all children, regardless of where they live.”
 
The “Last in Line, Last in School 2008” report is part of Save the Children’s Rewrite the Future campaign, which advocates for the 37 million children who cannot go to school because of conflict in their countries. The five-year initiative, launched in 2006, is dedicated to bringing 3 million children living in conflict-affected countries into school and to ensuring that another 5 million children in conflict-affected countries receive a better-quality education. Save the Children is working in over 20 countries, such as Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Uganda, to make schools safe and to encourage national governments and international institutions to prioritize quality education.

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change for children in need around the world. For more than 80 years, Save the Children has been helping children survive and thrive by improving their health, education and economic opportunities and, in times of acute crisis, mobilizing rapid lifesaving assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters.