January 25, 2021
By Corin Robertson
Yesterday we commemorated the International Day of Education, in which I have in mind the famous phrase of Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” My father was a university professor and my mother a high school teacher, so for as long as I can remember, I was instilled in the role that education plays in peace and development. Unfortunately, the opportunities are not equal for everyone.
Before the covid-19 pandemic, in low-income countries, nine out of ten children could not read a plain text by age ten. The challenge is greater for women, who have a high probability of not being in school or work, despite the fact that an additional school year increases their income by up to 20%. For mothers, education is the foundation for prosperity, as infants with literate mothers are 50% more likely to live beyond the age of five and twice as likely to attend school.
These statistics show a real risk of having a lost generation of girls with no education, limited in their development. This is why fostering education for girls and women, through building trust and ongoing work with strategic partners, is a UK goal.
Empowering women and girls through education is a priority for the Prime Minister and will be a key focus for the UK G7 presidency in 2021. The appointment of Helen Grant as the new special envoy for girls’ education shows our commitment to leading efforts internationally, ensuring twelve years of quality education for all, and meeting our global goal of 40 million girls receiving education by 2025.
Additionally, with the joint organization of the summit of the Global Alliance for Education, with Kenya, in July 2021, we will bring together governments, companies and civil society to channel investment and efforts, so that children from all over the world can learn in a classroom.
In Mexico, our commitment is high, as we seek to directly influence educational income and, indirectly, the environment, opportunities, aspirations and skills of girls and women so that they achieve the equity they deserve, in all areas. In this line, the British Council Mexico is vital, linking quality educational systems between Mexico and the United Kingdom, promoting the participation of women in the scientific field, as well as the interest of girls and adolescents in careers in the STEM area ( science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Additionally, through our Chevening scholarship program, each year we attract leading students in Mexico to study master’s degrees at British universities. As an ambassador, I am proud to know that the United Kingdom is the second global destination that Mexicans choose to study for a master’s degree (after the United States).
Education, science, technology and innovation in the face of COVID-19 have been essential to address the health challenges and economic repercussions of the pandemic. Thanks to the cooperation between universities, laboratories and governments, today we have a vaccine. We hope to see in the future more women teachers, doctors and scientists harness their full potential for the development of our countries.
I am impressed and moved by the commitment that exists to promote quality education and inclusive development, even in a context as complex as the one we currently face. I am confident that, thanks to our joint efforts, more children will be able to develop their potential and abilities, to create a more prosperous world for future generations.
Like every Monday, I am attentive to your comments
on my Twitter account (@CorinRobertson)
and at [email protected]
* Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Mexico.
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