Queen Rania Discusses Education at WEF

Yesterday, her husband King Abdullah II spoke about the Mideast peace process during one of the debates at the World Economic Forum. Today, Queen Rania of Jordan had her chance to speak on the rights of education during the session, “Rebuilding Education in the 21st Century.”

AP Photo/ Michel Euler

“There is no better equalizer in this world than education,” the Queen told about 800 delegates. “It’s the greatest justice you can give people.”

Rania gave various examples on how that is so, such as a child born to a literate mother was more likely to live past the age of 5 than one born to an illiterate mother. She also said education could help reduce the HIV/AIDS rate.

“Education is a balm that can help soothe many social ailments,” she said.

But as the Queen pointed out, there is still much work to be done in providing global education. According to her, at the current rates the Millennium Development Goals set for 2015 would not be met due to wrong approaches.

Queen Rania suggested unifying the global education sector much like the health field formed the Global Alliances for Vaccines and Immunizations ten years ago.