Governments must realise the millennium goals

Between 6 and 8 June, Germany will host this year’s G8 Summit meeting in Heiligendamm. In 2000, under the auspices of the United Nations, 189 heads of state and heads of government agreed the so-called millennium goals. Clear, internationally binding aims were formulated, including the right of every child to attend primary school by 2015 (millennium goal no. 2).

Although almost all experts consider education to be the key to solving problems such as those on the African continent, figures produced by the World Bank, UNICEF and the United Nations suggest that millennium goal no. 2 will not be attainable without further, energetic efforts. At the present time, on the African continent alone, around 100,000 more primary schools are needed, and this means that over 60,000 children are denied the opportunity to attend primary school.