Children and Education

This week marks the Global Action Week for Education. Despite some progress, education remains a luxury for many children, especially in developing countries. In the 2001-2002 school year, some 115 million children of primary-school age were not in school – two thirds of them girls. According to current estimates, 77 million eligible children are not enrolled in school and many of those enrolled do not attend.

How much do you know about children and education? Test your knowledge with this week's quiz!

1. Conflict affected fragile states (CAFS) are home to 50 percent of out-of-school children. How much of all education aid is given to CAFS?

A: 83 percent
B: 41 percent
C: 18 percent

2. How many girls of primary school age across the world are not in school?

A: 1 in 5
B: 1 in 2
C: 1 in 7

3. Who is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education?

A: Paul Hunt
B: Vernor Muñoz Villalobos
C: Juan Miguel Petit

4. According to Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, what should primary education be?

A: Cheap and efficient
B: Free and compulsory
C: Fun and worthy

5. In which country has a state recently banned sex education, after protests from legislators who say it will 'corrupt young minds'?

A: USA
B: Australia
C: India

6. What is the name of the campaign launched by more than 4,500 children in Delhi, India in October 2006, which calls for more of the gross domestic product (GDP) to be committed to health and education?

A: Nine is Mine
B: Ten is Zen
C: Eleven would be heaven

7. In 2004, in which countries were there the largest numbers of out-of-school children?

A: Nigeria, Pakistan, India and Ethiopia
B: Brazil, Niger, Panama and Uruguay
C: Russia, Albania, Latvia and Sierra Leone

8. What proportion of the world's illiterates are women?

A: Half
B: Three quarters
C: Two thirds

9. In Sub-Saharan Africa how many countries offer primary education which is truly free, according to one report?

A: Three
B: Ten
C: Zero

10. Sixty seven percent of which children in Zimbabwe have no access to schooling?

A: Poor
B: Disabled
C: White