Lack of education is an indicator of poverty.  It is also a key factor in the intergenerational transmission of poverty.  Fortunately, conversely, no child born of a literate mother will grow up illiterate. Lack of education touches girls more than boys:  girls are 50% more likely to never set foot in a classroom than boys Solutions are clear:

• more classes and teachers
• teacher training
• latrines
• a special attention to girls

The Global Partnership for Education has a track record that can justify the international community’s optimism with sharp increases in enrollment, in particular for girls.  The Education Financing Facility is being set up to take up a similar challenge in middle income countries where pockets of deep poverty persist.  Unfortunately, the Canadian contribution to global education, in particular to basic education, does not appear to be up to the challenge.