"Education for Everyone! Reality or a far distance dream?"

Finished my penultimate year of school! Hardest yet but who am I to complain. I have access to a wonderful education system in which I am educated to a high standard in subjects of my choice that will lead me to higher education... Pretty standard for a generalisation of "most" kids in UK and USA perhaps. However in some countries literacy rates are as low as 30.

Mali. A country in Western Africa that in 2009 held a literacy rate of 22.9. Although this number now is argued through numerous sources, it is still exceedingly low and may be in the range of lowest rates in Africa.

The education system of Mali provides compulsory free education for children aged between 7 and 16. "Compulsory" being the key word. Even though it is compulsory the enrollment rate into school is again very low, with approximately 900,000 children out of school all together. Although the education is free, parents are unable to afford school equipment, uniform, etc.

Additionally, education within these schools are at a poor standard. With a lack of teachers it results in huge classes in poor buildings and limited materials due to limited funding. This is saddening to hear that children are restricted of a good standard education due to money. I live in a country where schools offer a fantastic education system accessible to generally every child and still some children play truant.

Further more, the enrollment to secondary education in Mali is even worse. With some prejudiced against girls, limited schools within some districts and a lack of drive to achieve high, these children are suffering.

To meet with the Millennium goals, the Mailan government has the goal of providing a solid education for all children of Mali by 2015. Impossible? Too far fetched? Or maybe possible... with the help of other countries and bottom-up aid... But who should help? Us, the government, leave Mali to its own devices?