02 | OPERATIONS
EDUCATION
The United Nations calls the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education a “ generational catastrophe,” wiping out 20 years of progress. Additionally, the number of children between grades one through eight who fell behind in minimum reading proficiency levels increased by nine percent. This shows how the pandemic added pressure on a key sector for development.
It is in education where skills are being acquired, opportuni- ties are being created and lives are being shaped. A sound education is the foundation for economic wellbeing as well as for successful social integration. The Universal Declara- tion of Human Rights affirms that education is a fundamen- tal human right and “quality education” has been confirmed as SDG 4.
Following the pressing and urgent needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, governments are struggling to keep up investment levels in education and basic school infrastruc- ture, such as drinking water, electricity and hand-washing facilities, which are lacking in many countries. The OPEC Fund is addressing these challenges through support for educational infrastructure for schools, universities and voca- tional institutes. Since its foundation, the Fund has com- mitted US$1.2 billion to education and helped 2.4 million children to go to school.
IMPROVING ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION FOR MORE CHILDREN The OPEC Fund – along with other member institutions of the Arab Coordination Group - partnered with the Global Partnership for Education and participated in the SmartEd
“Raise Your Hand” campaign. The initiative aims to raise at least US$5 billion to transform education in 90 lower- income countries, and encourage additional and better education financing through innovation. The OPEC Fund allocated US$50 million to the campaign in support of education projects in partner countries.
ENHANCING SKILLS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS In China, the lack of a skilled and educated workforce is often considered a bottleneck for the development of in- novative industries and for human capital needs of growing businesses. The OPEC Fund is financing two projects, which will help to better align the country’s education system with China’s socio-economic development needs. The Lanzhou Vocational Education Project includes the construction of new facilities, a multipurpose building and a vocational training center for some 12,000 students per year. The Shijiazhuang Vocational Education Project aims to deliver market-oriented education for around 13,000 young job seekers annually as well as 20,000 skilled workers and pro- fessionals seeking additional training.
35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
