This is a guest post on the Universal Education Millenium Development Goal written by BlogCatalog colleague Claus Thorsson, a freelance writer who specializes in *free college admission essays* (link to: ) and *time management tips for college students*.
MDG 2: Giving Children and the World a Better Future
The *MDGs or Millennium Development Goals* are a set of objectives committed to by the nation members of the UN to address global problems in education, poverty, gender equality, and environmental degradation by 2015. The *MDG No. 2* (pdf) aims to provide universal primary education for all children of primary school age, regardless of gender and nationality, all over the world. The goal not only focuses on enrollment, but also in ensuring the completion of primary school and the high quality of education.
MDG 2 as a necessary action
In today's world, education is the key to gaining quality life. By forwarding the cause of universal primary school education, especially in developing nations ravaged by poverty, wars, and civil unrest, children can be better equipped when dealing with these issues and when rebuilding their nation in the future.
The benefit for humanity in general
One of the main causes of poverty is *lack of education* (see page 16). By addressing education problems, one is not only helping children make a better life for themselves and their families, but one is also combating poverty as one of its roots. Through education, developing nations have a better chance of improving their situation and creating a better future for their countries. This results in narrowing the gap between developed and developing nations, which then ensures that each nation is truly sovereign in the sense that it can stand equally amongst all the nations in the world economically and financially.
MDG Goal 2 challenges
The main obstacle to the initiatives of MDG Goal 2 is getting the resources that it needs to achieve the goals by the set time of 2015. Though the MDG Goal 2 did obtain *significant results* (link to:) for the past years as can be seen in the examples in Africa and Haiti, it is still short of the $11 billion needed annually to be on track for its 2015 target. Another challenge to MDG 2's initiatives is the willingness of the governments to allot a significant part of their *budgets to education*. The MDG is working towards having governments allot 15% to 20% of their national budget for education. Part of the drive is to provide free primary education for children, and if not, to waive the educational fees for the poorest families.
Gender equality
As education is provided regardless of gender, nationality, or culture, this will help lessen gender inequality and provide better opportunities for women to get a better life (MDG No. 3 Gender Equity). *Statistics* (see page 18) show that there is still disparity between the number of girls and boys with access to primary education. The Millennium Development Goals strives to close that gap.
Working with different nations and governments organizations
Another one of the challenges that the MDG faces is getting the full support of UN member nations towards achieving its goals. Apart from getting the full commitment of governments about allotting their domestic budgets for education, there are also the cultural walls that have to be broken, especially about women's rights. But anything can be accomplished through dialog, and with the *proper coordination with developed nations* and local NGOs, breaking through these challenges can be managed.
Related Posts:
Educational Pathways - for People - for Nations
Reaping from Yesterday's Efforts Planting for the Future
Learning how kids teach themselves, then get out of the way
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