Oxfam reaction: World Bank money for African education at the MDG Summit

Responding to the World Bank's announcement at the UN MDG Summit in New York that it will increase its investment in basic education by an additional $750 million for countries off track on the education MDGs, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, international agency Oxfam said:

Oxfam spokesperson Claire Godfrey: "This is a welcome contribution, but $16 billion is needed to make a real difference to the goal of basic education for all children. Other donors are now going to have to follow suit and take real steps towards helping reaching the education MDG."

"Education is just one of the eight MDGs that need an urgent injection of political capital and hard cash right now. To get all MDGs back on track for the 2015 deadline, donor governments will have to stick to their aid promises, and agree a tax on the financial sector to raise billions for tackling poverty and climate change."

"Now to really get the biggest bang for their buck this money should be channeled through the Education Fast Track Initiative."

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Oxfam's Rescue Plan for the Millennium Development Goals