A CHIEVE U NIVERSAL P RIMARY E DUCATION

T ARGET: E nsure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.

In almost all regions, the enrolment ratio exceeded 90% in The number of children out of school fell from 103 million in 1999 to 73 million in In sub-Saharan Africa the enrolment ratio has only recently reached 71%. In Southern Asia the enrolment ratio has climbed to 90%.

P OVERTY’S G RIP K EEPS C HILDREN O UT O F S CHOOL

Survey data from 40 countries show that, in 32 of them, attendance is higher in urban than in rural areas. Ensuring that the most vulnerable and marginalized children are enrolled and remain in school requires targeted programs and interventions aimed at poor households seeking to eliminate gender disparities.

A DMIDST MANY DEPRIVATIONS, REFUGEE CHILDREN ARE OFTEN DENIED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES They are more likely to be deprived of adequate education. 1, 5 million school-age refugee children live in developing countries especially in urban areas or camps. In 27 countries, 1 in 5 refugee child isn’t part of the formal education system. Girls are at a particular risk, often because they lack a safe, quality learning environmental and also due to poverty and early marriage. At least the number of girls enrolled in the formal education system has increased in recent years.

T HE Q UALITY O F E DUCATION I S A S I MPORTANT A S E NROLEMENT

In Africa, for instance, more children of secondary school age attend primary rather than secondary school. The proportion of children in developing countries who have completed primary education rose from 79% in 1999 to 85% in Ensuring that all primary school students complete their education in a timely manner will not only benefit the individual students; it will also reduce the number of over-age children in the primary education system. At present, 54% of children of the appropriate age in developing countries attend secondary school.