Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

1. Purpose: is to provide both boys and girls in developing countries with access to primary schooling to improve literacy and numeracy skills. It also offers opportunities to gain the skills and knowledge to engage in health-promoting behaviours.

2. Importance of goal: Education promotes literacy, which leads to greater employment prospects, thereby increasing levels of income. This in turn improves the individual's capacity to access adequate nutrition, shelter and health care, not only for themselves but also for their family members. Through achieving primary education for all children, the opportunities for individuals to improve their standard of living, develop to their full potential and lead productive lives according to their needs and interests are greatly improved.

3. Target 1: Ensure that by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling