Academy for Educational Development

Fewer Than One in Five Students in Many
Developing Countries Complete 12th Grade

Washington, D.C., September 11, 2006 — While great advancements have been made in primary school enrollment rates worldwide, 34 percent of all children will not complete primary school, and in many developing countries, fewer than 20 percent of all students complete secondary school, according a new report released today by the Academy for Educational Development. In addition, more than 100 million children worldwide have never been to school.

“The Untapped Opportunity: How Public-Private Partnerships Can Advance Education for All,” analyzes the tremendous progress in education that was made in the 20th century, the gaps that still exist, and the specific ways in which businesses can spur improvements in the education systems of developing countries.

“Education is the foundation of strong societies and economies,” said AED President Stephen F. Moseley. “Corporations are getting more involved in education, and their commitments and investments can accelerate progress.”

The report highlights four areas in which public-private partnerships can make investments that matter:

Entry: Because there is a shortage of school buildings, businesses can partner with governments and communities to build schools closer to where students live in order to increase entry rates. These partnerships can also work to educate the public on the need for education, and advocate for policy and program improvements.

Retention: Business can use their expertise in market analysis to investigate why 25 percent of children drop out of school before completing the primary level. Working with communities, businesses can suggest solutions to the problem and create incentive programs to keep students in school and find future employment.

Learning: The quality of learning varies considerably from country to country and school-to-school. To improve learning, businesses can contribute to curriculum development and teacher training programs, and work with schools on effective human resource management.

Inequality: Inequalities in all areas of education remain a serious problem. Girls and children who are poor, or from rural areas, are least likely to access high-quality education. Businesses can use their communications expertise to create campaigns that stress the benefits of educating girls and marginalized children.

“Closing the gaps in financing, management, and teaching in developing countries’ education systems is essential to their economic futures,” said Moseley. “This is where public-private partnerships can have the greatest impact.”

The report is being released in conjunction with The Conference Board’s 2006 Business and Education Conference: Global Public-Private Partnerships in Education, which will include executives who are currently, or are interested in, investing in education globally. U.S. government and country officials and other thought leaders will also attend.

Craig R. Barrett, Chairman of the Board, Intel Corporation, will open the conference. Other leading speakers include the education ministers of Jordan, and Nigeria; Barbara Masekela, the South African ambassador to the United States; Gene Sperling, Council on Foreign Relations; and representatives of leading U.S. corporations, including, Merrill Lynch, Hewlett-Packard, Cargill, Johnson & Johnson, and Intel.

The report is available at: http://www.aed.org/pppreport.cfm

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