Irish aid helps poorest to attend school

HOPES of greatly increasing the number of children attending school in poorer countries within the next six years are on target thanks in part to Irish donations.

Figures published yesterday show primary school enrolment in the poorest regions of Africa grew from 54% to 70% between 2000 and 2006. Irish Aid supports education programmes in six countries in the region.

Across the developing world, the number of children out of school has fallen from 103 million in 1999 to 75 million 10 years on.