October 24, 2012
I was moved by Leonard Pitts' recent column about Malala Yousufzai, who was shot by the Taliban because she advocates education for girls. She is now in a hospital in Birmingham, England.
Unlike Malala, my granddaughter, also 14, does not need to risk her life to attend school.
Although girls' education improves maternal and child survival, increases income and promotes civil society, 61 million children have no hope to go to school. The world agreed to provide access for education for all children by 2015, but is not on track to achieve that.
Although the Taliban is a danger to education, not funding the effective Global Partnership for Education as the World Bank promised to do is as great a threat to children.
The World Bank must increase funding for basic education by $750 million as promised or they will leave millions children out of school in 2015.
I appreciate all the local representatives who have co-sponsored the Education for All Act of 2011, including Rep. Barbara Lee. The act supports the effective multilateral Global Partnership for Education and many effective programs.
Susan Oehser
Oakland