To: Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP

Secretary of State for International Development

Dear Penny,

I am writing to urge you to lend the Government’s full support to the International Development Committee’s proposal that the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) should be funded by USD $500m over the next three years.

Education has always been an important tool in promoting equality, peace and prosperity. Not only can it help develop potential leaders for future generations, it also helps in the fight against poverty, by tackling economic and social exclusion. Yet according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 8.9% of the world’s children are not in primary school. I am especially concerned to learn that the number of girls not in school is 130 million – that’s 130 million girls being denied the chance to learn.

In February 2018, the governments of France and Senegal will host a replenishment conference in Dakar to support the life changing work of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The Global Partnership for Education is the only multilateral fund which focuses solely on education. If fully funded, GPE could support governments to train 425,000 teachers and build 9,250 classrooms. In turn, this will help advance the sustainable development goal of universal inclusive and equal education.

I look forward to hearing your positive response and to the Government giving its full backing to the GPE in Dakar.

Yours sincerely, Caroline