The world's richest nations are failing to deliver promised aid to educate children in war-torn countries such as Somalia and the Congo, a charity claimed today.
A report from Save the Children says that donor nations are overlooking the most needy children in conflict-affected states, in favour of providing aid for education to more stable nations.
"Not one of the 22 major donors... is currently providing adequate funding for education in conflict affected states," says the report, entitled Last in Line, Last in School.
A funding gap of US $9 billion (£4.6bn) must be plugged if donors are to meet the Millennium Development Goals of ensuring universal primary education by 2015, the report says. For the 39 million children currently out of school in conflict-affected states, the goal "remains a distant dream," the charity says.
Katy Webley, the head of education at Save the Children, said: "Unless the amount of aid for education to conflict-affected countries is drastically increased to bring it into line with both need and as well as the amount given to more stable countries, the [goal] of primary education for all will risk being rendered meaningless."
Save the Children welcomed the UK government's announcement last week of £150m for education in countries affect by conflict. But it singled out eight countries, including France, US and Germany, as the worst donors for committing their fair share of aid for education in war-torn states. It called on these nations to pledge similar commitments to that of the UK.
"Donors turn a blind eye to providing aid for education in countries affected by conflict because they don't fit their criteria for funding," the report says. "Donors are reluctant to commit funds to countries, as part of conflict, are often lacking the basic infrastructures and education strategies, that donors demand before committing funds."
But the charity says it is the children in these fragile countries that are most in need of education.
A case study in the report describes the experiences of Kalume, aged 17, from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kalume fought with a rebel group from 1999 to 2003 after quitting school. "I saw my friends going to school. They had gone a long way... So I started asking myself so many questions. We say all things without education are worth nothing," he told Save the Children.
Kalume has now been demobilised and is in the third year of secondary school. He has to pay around US$30 (£15) in school fees each term, and sells petrol to raise the money.
"Education provides a route out of conflict and poverty, yet donors and the international community are failing children in conflict-affected states by not providing sufficient aid for education," the charity says.