Class of 2007: not up to scratch

The annual GCE "school report" asseses donor countries’ performance in meeting their promises to deliver Education for All. It finds that all countries but one, the Netherlands, are failing to provide the aid required to deliver basic education for all.

Problems identified include:

• current levels of development aid are insufficient. OECD countries are collectively giving just 10% of what is needed. The US, Japan, Germany and Italy are the worst performers, while Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg and Sweden are the best
• total aid commitments to basic education actually fell from a high of $4.4 billion in 2004, to somewhere below $3 billion in 2005
• education aid is not being targeted at areas of greatest need, namely basic education in poor countries. Instead, aid is directed to countries in which donors perceive a strategic interest or where they have historical links. Only the UK and Denmark are focusing education aid on low-income countries

The report concludes that, in order for the EFA goals to be met, by 2009an annual total of at least $16 billion will be required in ODA for basic education. It calls on donors to:

• immediately commit their fair share of the $9 billion needed in 2007 pledge that by 2009, aid to basic education will reach $16 billion per year
• back the Education for All Fast-Track Initiative with real, upfront resources, to encourage ambitious planning by developing countries