“Our hopes are that G20 summit can deliver a better future through education”

World leaders are preparing to gather at the G20 summit in Germany on July 7 and 8. Campaigners, including Theirworld, have been working hard to get education for all and early childhood development on to the agenda.

Millions of children are out of school and millions more are failing to get crucial pre-primary education – and urgent action is needed to tackle these issues.  

We asked some of our network of Global Youth Ambassadors – who campaign for education and early years care in more than 80 countries – what they hope to see from these vital talks.

• 20 things about the G20 summit and why it could help to deliver education for all
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Here’s what they had to say about the G20 leaders backing education and – in particular – the proposed International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) that would unlock $10 billion of funding each year.

Olanrewaju Gideon Seun from Nigeria

“85% of children in low income countries do not have access to pre-primary education. While education is a critical component of global economic growth, it’s imperative that new and innovative ways to deliver quality education to all children, no matter where they are, is forged. 

“More and better education financing will be integral in achieving and ensuring quality and inclusive learning for all. I remain highly optimistic that from the G20 summit, global powerhouses will gather and garner the significance of political will and financial investment to drive the actualisation of a better future through education.”

Joachim Paschal Mabula from Tanzania

“I believe funding early childhood education can create a big room for children to grow their potential for being successful in life and contributing in the national development.

“If IFFEd fails, the burden on developing countries will increase rapidly, creating a big population with lot of risks.”

Harshit Gupta from India

“I really feel that it’s time for real action. It’s the right time to be a youth and bring a change in society. 

“Action plans should be discussed that are realistic and it should be ensured that those plans are executed. The youth of today’s world have to be involved in all the campaigns to reach out to a wider audience.”

Vuyelwa Zandamela from South Africa

“I hope the outcome of the G20 summit really focuses on investing in early childhood development programmes that are global and accommodative in every sense to make an impactful difference in investment.

“Leaders and advocates are very important, in that they hold the power to make a big difference on a large scale.

“I would really like to urge leaders to invest more in education and the quality and availability of education globally. 

“In our drive to create a difference, we also need to be tactful and really consider the magnitude of change we wish to achieve. This can only be achieved through collaboration.”

Eugene Thando Tshuma from Zimbabwe

“I will be very happy if IFFEd is put on the G20 agenda as there will be a chance to mobilise further funds for education. We can’t sit and wait for a world where half of its young people will never have been to school and don’t have the basic skills needed for employment.

“If it’s not on the agenda, for me that would be an indication that we have leaders that truly don`t believe in investing in their young people and children.”

Aishwarya Narasimhadevara from the United States of America 

“I hope world leaders at the G20 summit will continue their commitment to education as it helps to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

 “Education will help to create an equitable world where individuals can lead meaningful lives.”

Nidhi Pant from India

“I hope the following questions could be answered:

• How would world leaders address the crisis of financing in the education sector?
• How will education receive priority? There’s aid flowing from rich countries but it is not receiving priority.
• How shall education be tackled for the refugees?

“In a world confronting the largest refugee crisis in history, 86% of the refugees are hosted by the developing countries, who are already hard pressed on education needs.

Currently, funding for education in humanitarian crises is still woefully insufficient. According to UNESCO, only 2.7% of total humanitarian aid is allocated to education.”

Isaac Success Omoyele from Nigeria

“I believe that at the G20 leaders will have the children and their education at heart and they will take action.”

Sylvia Kakyo from Uganda 

“It would be very important if IFFEd is included on he agenda for the purposes of prioritising education funds. Through this children will have access to quality education and became the leaders in their lives, communities and countries at large.”

Pravin Nikam from India

“On behalf of 113 million adolescent girls who are at risk of dropping out of school due to the start of their first period, I am here to appeal to G20 leaders to revalue menstruation as a clean and natural biological process. 

“I urge them not to tax sanitary products. You will be appalled to know that many countries charge a tax of up to 25% on sanitary pads and tampons, famously known as the “Tampon Tax”. 

Something isn’t right here. Therefore I call upon all G20 leaders to take immediate action and make menstrual hygiene more accessible. Let’s take collective action to drive change in our society.”

Olowo Omotoke from Nigeria

“I am an advocate for individuals with specials needs and disabilities. In Nigeria many people with one disability or another are being stigmatised and there is no adequate plan for them in the school curriculum or the hope of getting a job after schooling.

“A lot of people with disability are being tagged as “abnormal” or “not fit in the society”.

“This is a call for governments to raise their aid, for the adequate provision of education and also equal job opportunities.”

IFFEd is urgently needed to be part of the G20 agenda. This will not only bridge the gap where governments have failed but it will also enable organization get access to funds so as to make education possible for young children who don’t have access to schools. This young children are the future and it will also helps to meets the needs for Early Childhood Development.

Tshwanelo Fokazi from South Africa 

“If it was not put on the G20 agenda, I’d feel hopeless because I wouldn’t know where else to look for help for funds considering that our political leaders mismanage funds and the corporate sector in South Africa focuses on education for children aged between 7 to 18 and also tertiary education.”

Ebenezer Okoidigun from Nigeria

“If IFFEd was discussed at the G20, it would mean the countries recognise education as a solution to many of the problems faced by middle and low income countries. 

“On the other hand, not including it in the agenda, would be disappointing. Education, and investment in it, is an obvious priority and failing to discuss at one of the most high-level meetings is the loss of an opportunity to bring about the change that is needed.”

Taha Fathima Khan, India

“As a South African, we can hardly look to our government for help with ECD or education due to political corruption and mismanagement of funds. Therefore, if IFFED was put on the G20 agenda, I’d feel encouraged to know that help is on the way for underprivileged toddlers. Considering that their education is not prioritised in our country.”