Aim is to galvanise the political will to deliver on the commitments to girls’ education made at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018
The UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and the Kenyan Education Minister Amina Mohamed co-chaired the first meeting of the Platform for Girls’ Education last week.
The body is made up of influential global figures and aims to help secure 12 years of quality education for girls across the world.
Britain is already leading by example, announcing an additional £212 million in UK aid earlier this year to help one million vulnerable girls across the Commonwealth receive 12 years of quality education by 2030.
The Platform will work together during the UK’s 2018 to 2020 term as Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth. It will present a report before the next meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government to be hosted by Rwanda in 2020, showing progress made and what will need to be done to meet the 2030 goal.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:
“Educating girls properly will help make the world a better place, and is one of the best investments in our shared future.”
“When we educate girls we create stable, prosperous societies.”
“We must keep up the momentum to ensure that the world’s poorest girls get 12 years of quality education.”
Kenyan Education Minister Amina Mohamed said:
“Education is the single most powerful tool to fight poverty and extreme want.”
“Collectively, it is our generation’s most urgent priority. Global trends have shown that economies with high literacy, numeracy and basic education levels grow faster compared to those with low levels. Inclusivity in education policy is also a vital enabler of resilient, progressive, fair and strong communities.”
“This Platform, which I am extremely proud to co-chair, gives us an opportunity to positively impact millions of out-of-school girls’ lives and to spur sustainable economic growth across the Commonwealth.”
The Platform for Girls’ Education will galvanise political will to deliver on the commitments to girls’ education made at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018.
