Today Minister of International Development Hilde F. Johnson and Minister of Education Kristin Clemet are launching Norway’s strategy for ensuring education for all the world’s children and young people by 2015. The name of the strategy is "Education - job number 1".

"Education is our most important tool for fighting poverty. The strategy is Norway’s contribution to an international effort to achieve Education for All," said Minister of International Development Minister Johnson. One-hundred and fifteen million children have no access to primary education, and most of them are girls. Over the next two years the Government will double its development assistance to education, which means an increase of NOK 1 billion. The strategy explains how this will be done. The most important priority areas include girls’ education, literacy, teacher training, adult education, support for vulnerable groups and education in crises and conflict situations.

The fact that Tanzania has been chosen as the place to launch the strategy is no coincidence. Tanzania is one of Norway’s seven main partner countries, and Norway is supporting Tanzania’s basic education programme. "I will never accept a situation where poor children do not have the same opportunities to go to school as we do," said the Minister of International Development, who spent her first school years in Tanzania.

The two ministers are visiting Tanzania this week. They are launching the strategy at Mikocheni Primary School in Dar es Salaam today. The launching is also being attended by the Tanzanian Education Minister. The strategy is illustrated by drawings done by the children at Mikocheni Primary School, and quotes many of their views on the importance of education.

Press contact: Jon Mørland, Head of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tel.: +47 90 77 02 06/satellite tel.: +881631416606