3.2: Education
Help those in the developing world gain the skills and knowledge they need to build free and prosperous societies. Other Information:
The United States seeks to help those in the developing world gain the skills and knowledge they need to build free and prosperous
societies. U.S. educational assistance has been particularly valuable in establishing and extending a lasting, positive image
of the United States. This is especially true given the extent to which inadequate educational opportunity and poor educational
quality hampers human development in large parts of the world. Approximately 770 million adults are illiterate, while 77 million
primary schoolaged children—most of them girls—are not enrolled in school. In Sub-Saharan Africa, only two-thirds of children
who enter primary school complete it. Given these circumstances, it is not surprising that investments in basic education
generally yield high returns, particularly in the developing world. It is the foundation on which individuals and institutions
build stable and prosperous lives and democratic states. The quality and accessibility of basic education play a critical
role in determining whether learners acquire core skills, including literacy and numeracy, and have a chance to continue their
education. Given the particularly significant challenges facing girls, we will devote special efforts to reducing barriers
to education for them. Educating people in critical thinking and the scientific method builds demand for objective, democratic
decision-making based on the rule of reason, while preparing citizens to become productive participants in the local polity
and economy. Moreover, higher education strengthens the institutional capacities of public and private institutions to: teach,
train, conduct research, and provide community service; contribute to development; and promote professional development opportunities,
institutional linkages, and exchange programs. The U.S. Government helps build education systems that enable countries to
better compete in the global economy by enhancing knowledge and skills and improving education completion rates. Educational
systems must foster equitable access, as well as the quality and mix of human capital needed for accelerated national development.
By promoting linkages with U.S.-based institutions, our assistance will strengthen the capacity of universities and colleges
to help address their countries’ development problems. Sharing knowledge with other countries also yields direct benefits
for the United States. For example, joint research and development efforts with other nations build U.S. knowledge, while
leveraging resources to advance science in areas ranging from space exploration to the development of new energy technologies.
Thus, we will promote sharing of knowledge in the international scientific community that will enhance the efficiency and
hasten the fruition of U.S. research efforts, and promote international scientific collaboration.
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