International Perspective

A new UNESCO report looks at educational issues internationally and finds progress but lots of room for growth. About 86 percent of primary-school aged children are enrolled in school, and Sub-saharan Africa, which has the lowest rate of youngsters attending primary school, increased primary school enrollments 27 percent between 1999 and 2004. Progress is also being made in gender equity, with 94 girls now enrolled in school internationally per 100 boys, up from 92 in 1999. But too many children still lack access to school or fail to complete their schooling, and one-in-five adults internationally lacks basic literacy skills--two thirds of those lacking these skills are female. The report also pays particular attention to early childhood care and education, and offers examples from many countries.