9. Universal access to basic education: achievement of primary education by at least 80% of primary school-age children

Progress made: Increasing access, with a narrowing gender gap. There are now more children in school than there were ever before.

80% (net primary school enrolment)

82% (net primary school enrolment)

Elimination of gender disparities in primary and secondary education

A further 50% reduction of children not in school and a net primary school enrolment of at least 90%

While net primary enrolment and attendance is increasing in all major regions of the world, there are still 120 million children without access to basic education. These are overwhelmingly working children, children affected by disability or conflict, children of poor families, children of ethnic minorities, children in urban slums, and rural and remote areas. The majority of children out of school are girls.

Difference between male and female enrolment:
South Asia- 13%
Middle East and North Africa- 9%
Sub-Saharan Africa- 8%

Regional enrolment and attendance variants (1990 to 1999):
Sub-Saharan Africa – from 56% to 60%
South Asia – from 65% to 71%
Middle East and North Africa – from 77% to 81%
Latin America and Caribbean – from 88% to 87%
CEE/CIS – from 86% to 91%
East Asia and the Pacific – from 94% to 95%

Some regions are barely keeping up with the growth in the number of school-age children and a few countries are falling back.

Adult literacy: reduction of at least half of 1990 rate, with emphasis on female literacy

Progress made: Rates of adult illiteracy fell in all regions; although the number still hovers around 900 million due in part to population growth.

25% illiterate

20% illiterate

Illiteracy is increasingly concentrated in South Asia and East Asia. It also is increasingly concentrated among women.