Education

For over 30 years, Concern has been working to improve access to basic education among the poorest people in the world. Our education programmes currently span 12 countries, benefiting 499,637 people last year alone.

Take a look at how our programme is benefitting the lives of schoolchildren in Liberia:

2015 deadline

More than one in ten children living in the developing world never get the chance to go to school. Securing access to basic education for all is one of our main aims. It’s also one of the Millennium Development Goals. With the 2015 deadline for these goals fast approaching, it’s now more important than ever that we make progress in this area.

Education charity

Our main aim is to ensure access to quality education for the poorest and most marginalised people. But access is not enough. Once in school, children need to be assured of a safe environment enabling them to realise their potential. As a minimum standard, we believe that education must result in sufficient levels of literacy and numeracy. This enables people to lift themselves out of poverty and continue to improve their lives. 

Quality education

Our education programmes work to ensure the various factors necessary for quality education are addressed – teacher education, community involvement in education, classroom construction, development and supply of materials. We help communities to identify the obstacles to education for their children. Overcoming these obstacles plays a pivotal role in our programmes.  

Improving lives

As well as being a fundamental human right, basic education gives people greater economic opportunities and empowers them to lead healthier, more productive lives. One of the most effective ways of improving livelihoods is by increasing access to quality education. 

Find out more by watching a video about our education programme in Ethiopia. 

Access for all

Girls, children living in slums, orphans, working children, children belonging to minority groups, children affected by or infected with HIV and AIDS and children with disabilities are all more likely to miss out on the opportunity to attend school. Our education programmes and policy place particular emphasis on reaching those who have been excluded from the formal schooling system. 

Education is their ticket to a better life for themselves and their families. Here’s an example of our work in Ethiopia.

In depth

• Take a look at some of our reports and publications about education
• Find out about the Urban Slum Basic Education Campaign in Kenya, which Concern helped to set up