Education For All
(EFA)
Education For All (EFA)
Is a global movement led by UNESCO (United Nation
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization),
aiming to meet the learning needs of all children,
youth and adults by 2015.
History
• The Education for All movement is a global
commitment to provide quality basic education for
all children, youth and adults. The movement was
launched at the World Conference on Education for
All in 1990 by UNESCO, UNDP, UNICEF and the
World Bank. Participants endorsed an 'expanded
vision of learning' and pledged to universalize
primary education and massively reduce illiteracy
by the end of the decade.
Mission
UNESCO'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AS
A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT, TO IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND TO FACILITATE POLICY
DIALOGUE, KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND CAPACITY
BUILDING.
Goal 1
Expand early children care and education
The goal calls for better and more possibilities to
support young children, and their families and
communities, in all the areas where the child is
growing - physically, emotionally, socially and
intellectually.
Goal 2
Provide free and compulsory primary education for
all
Primary schooling must be entirely free of charge
and be compulsory for every child. Some groups of
children need special attention, for instance those
who belong to minority groups and those whose
circumstances are particularly difficult.
Goal 3
•Promote learning, skills for young people and
adults
This goal places the emphasis on the learning needs
of young people and adults in the context of lifelong
learning. It calls for equitable access to learning
programs that are appropriate, and mentions life
skills particularly. We should note too that EFA Goal 6
also refers to essential life skills as a desirable
outcome of quality basic education.
Goal 4
• Increase adult literacy by 50 per cent
This goal calls for a certain level of improvement in
adult literacy by 2015 - it says that it should be 50 per
cent better than it was in 2000. The needs of women
should receive particular attention. In addition, all
adults should have opportunities to go on learning
throughout their lives.
Goal 5
• Achieve gender parity by 2005, gender equality by
2015
This goal calls for an equal number of girls and boys
to be enrolled in primary and secondary school by
2005 - this is what gender parity means (even though
not all girls and boys may be enrolled at this stage). It
further aims to achieve gender equality in education
by 2015. This is a more ambitious goal, meaning that
all girls and boys have equal opportunity to enjoy
basic education of high quality, achieve at equal
levels and enjoy equal benefits from education.
Goal 6
• Improve the quality of education
This goal calls for improvement in the quality of
education in all its aspects, aiming for a situation
where people can achieve excellence. Everyone
should be able to achieve learning outcomes that are
recognized and can be measured, particularly with
regard to literacy, numeracy and other skills essential
for life.
