Access to education around the world

There are more than 100 million children around the world not in school — but what does this really mean? What are the statistics for individual regions and countries? What are some of the complex issues that keep children from getting a quality education? Take a closer look at the state of education in the developing world with this fact sheet. (Stats are compiled from United Nations agencies, including UNDP, UNESCO and UNICEF.) You'll see that, while some countries are making notable progress, there is still a great deal of work that must — and can — be done to ensure that all children have access to education.

Africa

+ In Kenya, new government regulations have made education free, allowing 1.3 million more children to go to school in 2003.

+ Tanzania, like Kenya, has made education free, enrolling an additional 1.6 million children into school.

- Studies from West Africa report that, due to the effect of AIDS on teachers, 119,000 school-age children in Côte d’Ivoire received no education in 1997-98.

- An estimated 860,000 children lost their teachers to AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa in 1999.

Arab States

- The ratio of students to teachers has been rising in recent years, to a regional average of 25 students per teacher.

- In Iraq, nearly one in four children age 6-12 is not in school.

+ In Afghanistan, since the fall of the Taliban in 2002, an estimated 3 million children now attend some form of school, the vast majority at the primary level.

+ The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar have committed to making major improvements to their educational systems, including increased teacher training and the construction or repair of schools.

South Asia and the Pacific

- Of the world's 862 million illiterate adults, 61% live in India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

+ Throughout most of China, primary education enrollment rates are as high as 97%.

- There are 1.5 million girls out of school in Bangladesh.

- Although enrollment rates for boys and girls are equal in Cambodia, only 38% of girls complete at least four years of schooling.

Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia

+ Countries such as Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria have 95% primary school enrollment rates.

- In Turkey, one in eight girls is not in school.

- While Turkmenistan's overall enrollment rate is reported to be around 95%, enrollment rates are declining and drops-outs are on the rise.

- Although 98% of Kazakhstan is literate, primary-age children face major teacher and supply shortages.

Latin America and the Caribbean

- In Haiti, a vast majority of children — about 65% — do not attend school; the country's adult literacy rate is less than 50%.

- About 80% of primary-age children are in school in Nicaragua; however, only 29% complete primary school.

- Although Jamaica claims a high enrollment rate, nearly 30% of boys are functionally illiterate by the time primary school ends.

+ In Cuba, Belize, Brazil, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina and Mexico, 100 percent of children are enrolled in primary school.

Quotes

Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.

--Nelson Mandela, African statesman.

Only the educated are free.

--Epictetus, citizen of Ancient Rome.

If I were head of my school I would go around the whole country telling parents about the benefits of educating their children, to increase literacy levels in my country.

--Akosua Asaah Tioum-Barimah, 13, Ghana

I would set up education for the poorer children which would cost them nothing. Sometimes education is not about money but about good will.

--Anita Pernatasari, 17, Indonesia

Everyone has the right to education.

--Article 26, The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, 10 December 1948

(Children's quotes are from Stand Up, Speak Out, Peace Child International, 2002, ISBN 1-85434-887-6.)