[child-rights] UNICEF rolls out Child-to-Child Survey to get all children in school

UNICEF press release

With 121 Million Out of School, Schoolmates Start to Ask Questions

ADDIS ABABA, 15 June 2004 ­ In honour of the Day of the African Child,
UNICEF officially launched a child-powered, global project to account for
children not in school in order to accelerate the enrolment of all girls
as well as all boys.

For the project, called the Child-to-Child Survey, teams of school
children interview out-of-school children to find out the particular
reasons why they are not enrolled.  An estimated 121 million children are
out of school worldwide.  The majority of these children are girls.

As children report the results of their findings, they will call on their
communities and governments to take action and place education at the top
of their agendas. The effort is one part of UNICEF's multi-partner
strategy to reach the goal of Education For All.

"We want this project to start a chain reaction, whereby the children and
their teachers will not only identify those out of school but will also
commit to getting them enrolled and helping them succeed," UNICEF
Executive Director Carol Bellamy said. "The chain reaction will go on to
involve communities, parents, government ministries and external partners
in local and national drives to achieve education for all."

The Day of the African Child this year focuses on the theme of 'The
Family.' Achieving educational parity for girls will have far-reaching,
positive effects, including ensuring that families will be healthier and
stronger, not only for today, but also for future generations.  Bellamy
said the world must remember of the importance of educating every child.

   "Educated mothers and fathers are the foundation of healthy, strong
families and societies," said Bellamy.  "With more than 24 million
children out of school in Africa, we must consider this a critical
situation and act with the urgency that it merits."

Discussing preliminary survey results, children in the Ethiopian capital
said that school costs, children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, and poverty are all
part of the problem.

Ethiopia is one of 25 countries participating in UNICEF's girls' education
campaign:  '25 by 2005', which aims at making sure girls and boys have an
equal opportunity for to obtain a primary and secondary education in 25
countries by the year 2005.

In addition to children, the Child-to-Child Survey is mobilizing
governments and other partners, such as the Global Movement for Children
and its members, like the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl
Scouts.

Several other countries in Africa are launching their own Child-to-Child
Surveys, including Kenya, Malawi, and Chad.  In the coming months, other
countries, including Zambia and Sudan will roll out their own versions of
the CTC.  Plans are underway to take the CTC global, starting later in the
year with South Asia.

****

For further information, please contact:
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media NY, 212 326 7452

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