In a Parliamentary debate this week, Falkirk MP Eric Joyce, highlighted the plight of millions of children around the world in trying to access education.

Eric called the debate to, amongst other things, highlight the current ‘Send My Friend To School’ campaign which a number of local schools have been involved in. The campaign is designed to raise awareness amongst school pupils in the UK about the number of children worldwide, particularly in Africa and other developing nations and regions, who had no access to schooling or educational opportunities. Eric had visited Larbert High School, St Mungo’s High School and Stenhousemuir Primary School the previous week to talk to local school pupils.

Speaking today, Eric Joyce MP said

‘The lack of educational opportunities for millions of the worlds children are not only personally limiting but have a profound affect on developing countries and their ability to seize development opportunities or to train and retain a skilled workers..

When I visited schools in Kinshasa and Goma in Central Africa a few years ago, there were many children whose parents were unable to pay for any schooling and who, as a result, sat in the rafters of the school hut watching the relatively privileged few children being educated.

I know from visiting local schools and speaking with local children that the plight of the worlds unschooled children has gripped kids and young people here in the UK  and I’m pleased that MakePovertyHistory and the Global Campaign for Education have found a way to engage UK school children in the campaign.