LONDON: Malala Yousafzai called upon the world leaders to provide at least 12 years of education to every child free of cost, especially to girls. She said this in connection to a major education summit which ended on Thursday in South Korea.

Ministers and non-governmental organisations from 160 countries met at the World Education Summit to set education goals for next 15 years.

They agreed to ensure these goals, which will be finalised at the United Nations in September. The goals call upon the countries to provide 12 years of publicly-funded primary and secondary education to all children, with nine years free and compulsory.

Malala urged the world leaders to back these goals, saying 12 years of free education was critical, particularly for girls.

“Everyday my sisters all over the world are fighting to take their place in the classroom,” the Nobel-laureate said in a statement.

“They want to be the best they can be and give back to their communities and the world. This means they must have the opportunity to receive 12 years of quality education.”

Unesco said this month that $22 billion was needed to achieve universal quality education for every child by 2030.

Education targets will become part of the Sustainable Development Goals to be finalised by the UN in September. These replace the Millennium Development Goals and mark a new era in the global fight against poverty.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2015

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