Parliamentarians from across the world have united to urge G7 leaders to commit to protecting, prioritizing, and increasing official development assistance (ODA) to education.

As parliamentarians from across the G7, we call on G7 countries to urgently drive progress on Sustainable Development Goal 4 by including global education on the agenda of the 2023 G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting and ensuring an explicit commitment to protect, prioritize, and increase international education financing within the G7 leaders' communique.

The statement comes after G7 parliamentarians joined together in a virtual exchange hosted by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), in collaboration with Education Cannot Wait (ECW), International Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNED) and the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), at which they heard from Ministers of Education from Haiti and Ethiopia as to the depth and scale of the enduring education crisis.

The exchange's co-chair, MP Suzuki of Japan, endorsed the statement, remarking, “As the world's major economic powers gather at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, we must recognize that there is a severe education crisis affecting many developing countries… It is very crucial for the G7 countries, including Japan, to prioritize education as a top issue and secure an increase of funding for education. We have a responsibility to not only talk about our ideals but also take action."

Vicky Ford MP from the United Kingdom, Co-Chair of IPNED, strongly welcomed and endorsed the statement, "I'm delighted to add my voice to the rallying cry of parliamentarians across G7 countries to ensure global education is firmly on the agenda of this years' G7 - and that existing G7 commitments to girls' education, including a fully funded GPE, are implemented with a sense of urgency that reflects the scale and depth of the education crisis."

CEO of ECW, Yasmine Sherif, added, “G7 investments in education can pave a path to a brighter future for our planet and its people - now is the time to step up and deliver for those furthest behind in crises.”

Laura Frigenti, GPE's CEO, noted the strong legacy generated by G7 nations dating back to 2017, and welcomed the demonstration of unity, saying, “There is no denying that G7 leaders face a daunting agenda, and I applaud Prime Minister Kishida's commitment to defend peace and the world order. That intent can also be met by recognizing the centrality of education to those goals, by stepping up funding in lower-income countries and by making education a G7 priority for the long-term.”

Signatories

• Canada:
  • Heather McPherson MP - Critic for Foreign Affairs and International Development for the New Democratic Party
  • Anita Vandenbeld, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West Nepean
• France: M. André Vallini Former Minister, Senator of Isere
• Germany: Susanne Menge MP - Green Party Rapporteur for the Committee for Economic Cooperation and Development (AWZ)
• Italy: Lia Quartapelle MP - Vice President of the Committee on Foreign and Community Affairs
• Japan:
  • Takako Suzuki MP, Former Minister and Deputy Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party
  • Masaaki Taniai MP, member of the House of Councilors, Secretary General of the House of Councilors
  • Mitsuo Takahashi MP, member of the House of Councilors, Director of Committee of Land and Transportation
• United Kingdom:
  • Baroness Liz Sugg OBE - former Minister and first Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Girls' Education
  • Preet Gill MP - Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
  • Vicky Ford MP - Former Minister and Co-Chair of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Global Education and International Parliamentary Network for Education
• United States of America: Congresswoman Lois Frankel - Member of House Appropriations State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee and Co-Chair of Democratic Women's Caucus