First Predictions for 2015 show 30 Million Children still out of School by Save the Children Alliance 12:44am 22nd Jun, 2007   20/06/2007    Save the Children"s report reveals that at least 30 million children, most living in conflict affected countries, are still likely to be out of school by 2015, the target year for the Millennium Development Goals.    The Story of the Future, the first ever animated report of its kind published today, shows that the current trend of providing education for just over 4 million extra children per year is not enough to reach the 2015 education target the world set itself in 2000.    Although the total number of out-of-school children is declining, those who are still out-of-school are proving ever harder to reach. More than half of the 77 million children still out of school live in conflict-affected fragile states. However, despite the vulnerability of the children living in these countries, only 23 percent of the global basic education aid goes to these conflict and post-conflict areas.    "It is outrageous that there are 39 million children still not going to school in areas affected by conflict." says Jasmine Whitbread, CEO of Save the Children.    Whitbread continued "World leaders must recognise the vulnerability of children in countries affected by conflict around the world and start taking their promises seriously. If we don"t act now, there"ll be a whole new generation of children going without education while we sit back and watch."    The animated report The Story of the Future shows which major donors are seriously failing to fulfil their promises with the funding needed to provide universal education, including US, Japan, Austria and Italy. The report also shows that, instead of increasing to meet the challenge, commitments and disbursements have dropped since 2004 with countries that need aid the most not getting their fair share.    In Northern Uganda, 20 years of conflict have destroyed schools and have caused teachers to flee while others have been abducted. Ben Hewitt, Save the Children said, "Today half of all 6 year olds do not go school. In some districts, less than a fifth of children are completing primary school. With no education, these children have a bleak future ahead of them. "Providing education for children must be a priority as the peace process moves forward. This needs funds and commitment from all donors and the Ugandan government."    Education can empower children to rebuild their societies. Education can protect children during a conflict, help communities heal afterwards, and build peace and prosperity. Visit the related web page
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