20 July 2010

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has thrown its weight behind the international One Goal campaign to encourage free education to children who cannot afford it. The municipality has pledged its support to the initiative with the aim of ensuring that the region produces an educated generation who will be able to participate in the economy of the country and improve their livelihood.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development councillor Abdul Mogale has hailed the initiative as having the potential to unite various stakeholders globally under one goal of providing access to education for all children.

Speaking at the Africa Unite Tribute event at the Sandton Convention Centre recently Mogale said the Ekurhuleni was the pit stop for job-seekers coming to the industrial hub of the nation. He pointed at the high unemployment rate in the metro region which is above 34% as the main reason why the metro has embraced the One Goal campaign.

In 2000, 164 world governments came together to create the Education for All Goals, 189 governments also created the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Two of the eight goals involve ending poverty through education:

• To ensure that all boys and girls complete primary schooling by 2015 and
• To ensure that girls have the opportunity for education at all levels by 2015.

Mogale indicated that various governments had committed themselves to making sure there was enough money and that the policies were in place to make the campaign a reality.

The campaign has captured unprecedented support and political will across the world. One Goal is supported by the football world and its governing body, FIFA. Supporters and ambassadors include a multitude of global football stars, celebrities and world leaders, all working to achieve the shared vision of education for all.

Source: ekurhuleni.com