Eliminating learning poverty a priority

For most children, turning 10 is an exciting moment. They're learning more about the world and expanding their horizons. But too many children - more than half of all 10-year-olds in low-and middle-income countries - cannot read and understand a simple story. We are in the middle of a global learning crisis that stifles opportunities and aspirations of hundreds of millions of children. That is unacceptable.

In October, we released data to support a new learning target: by 2030, we want to cut, by at least half, the global level of learning poverty.

Learning to read is an especially critical skill: it opens a world of possibilities, and it's the foundation on which other essential learning is built - including numeracy and science. Wiping out learning poverty - defined as the percentage of children who can't read and understand a simple story by age 10 - is an urgent matter. It's key to eliminating poverty in general and boosting shared prosperity. It's key to helping children achieve their potential.