The Key To Eradicate Poverty and Hunger

Achieving universal primary education is a key prerequisite for the successful eradication of poverty and hunger worldwide. Only guaranteed access to a full course of primary schooling ensures that individuals are able to fulfil their development potential and participate in the globalisation process on an equal footing. Primary education also provides the knowledge that is required for the individual to benefit from further education in the secondary and tertiary sectors and vocational training.

In the last 30 years, school enrolment rates worldwide have more than doubled. And yet it is estimated that around the world, some 121 million children do not attend primary school. In many developing countries, the quality of education is often poor and fails to cater for the needs of target groups such as disadvantaged children and members of socio-cultural minorities.

There are 862 million adults and young people worldwide who cannot read and write. 121 million children - one-fifth of all school-age children - have no opportunity to attend school. Denying people access to education means denying them a basic human right. Without education, human development is impossible. Promoting education is therefore a key task in international and German development policy.

Education is the basis for the cultural identity of the individual and society. Every child has the right to an education and every individual is entitled to satisfy their basic learning needs.

The Purpose of Basic education is to encourage learning, facilitate the ongoing learning process, and promote independent thought and problem-solving. Besides literacy and numeracy, people must also acquire life skills, for example self-help skills.

A good basic education increases self-confidence and autonomy. Knowledge is a prerequisite for self-determined action and participation. Education is therefore also the basis of a functioning democracy, for people who can read and write are able to participate in social and political processes more quickly and effectively. They are able to assert their individual rights.

A basic education empowers people to improve their social, cultural and economic status. It increases opportunities for economic growth and is therefore a key prerequisite for poverty reduction.

Studies by the World Bank show that just four years of education help people to increase the productivity of their agricultural smallholdings. Basic education is the prerequisite for devel