Education

Education for all

All over the world, more and more children – especially girls – are attending school. Since 2000, the number of children in primary education has risen by 40 million.

All the same, progress is too slow to meet the internationally agreed education targets, so developing countries are getting outside help and funding in order to carry out their education plans. It is a fact that education boosts development, which is why the Netherlands has become a major donor in this field.

For any country to have sustainable development and a thriving economy, its population must be well-educated. Education enables people to participate in the economic, political and social development of their country. Basic education, in particular, is a key condition for improving the prospects of the poor and disadvantaged.

Universities and institutions of higher professional education train people so that they can introduce reform, mobilise civil society and pass on their knowledge to others. Internationally agreed action plans like Education for All and the Millennium Development Goals are the foundation on which Dutch policy is based

Priorities
The Netherlands is working towards:
● a better match between school and the job market
● better-quality education
● making education more accessible for the disadvantaged and for groups that are difficult to reach, such as girls, working children and children caught up in armed conflicts or emergencies