How did you feel when you woke up for school this morning?  Did you leap out of bed ready for another day of learning?  Did you press snooze on your alarm and try to get another sneaky five minutes of sleep?  Were you rushing your homework over breakfast or all ready to go with your school bag packed the night before? Whatever your morning routine looked like I doubt you had time to stop and think about how fortunate we are to live in a country where education is provided for everyone from ages 5 -18. Attending school everyday is something we can easily take for granted, perhaps sometimes even grumble about, but the power of education to transform lives and societies is undeniable and sadly, access to education across the world is a very unequal picture.

According to data from UNESCO, worldwide there are 244 million children who aren't accessing education.  These children are in conflict and disaster zones, they are children in poverty who need to work to survive, and these are children whose life chances will be significantly damaged through not having access to their basic right of education. 

One group in particular are girls in Afghanistan where, despite promises to the contrary, the Taliban have barred girls from attending secondary school.  Teenage girls watch their brothers going off to school, denied the same opportunities for learning.  Afghanistan is the only country in the world which forbids half its population from attending school.  Malala Yousefzai, who was shot by the Taliban as a school-girl and now campaigns for the rights of girls said recently, 'if Afghan women are deprived of education, it doesn't only harm them but also the economy, peace, and prosperity of Afghanistan.'   As Yousefzai points out, education brings significant benefits to society and to individuals: health outcomes, life expectancy and even democracy are enhanced where education is valued and prioritised. 

So today take a moment to appreciate your education.

It gives you the keys to further academic study and employment.  It has the power to open your eyes to the world around you. It can help you find your passions and develop your skills.  It is where you can build your character and the foundations of the adult you will become.  

Education is your right and your privilege.