Africa/Global: Basic education underlies development

Basic education is a prerequisite for economic development, individual health, poverty reduction and democracy, according to a report released this week by the Basic Education Coalition, an umbrella group of 19 private and non-governmental development and relief organisations. Based on the most current data from the World Bank, United Nations and other agencies, the report, Teach a Child, Transform a Nation, illustrates the correlations between education and the benchmarks that determine a country’s growth. The report notes that while education alone is not sufficient to generate development, it is a major factor in the ultimate effectiveness of other country investments.