Test Drive | Page 7

Intersections | Winter 2015 “ child born to A a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five years.” Column | 7 Child labor and slavery pose a substantial impediment to achieving EFA. Children of education and poverty alleviation. Focusing on these hard-to-reach children cannot attend school while they continue to work. Even when some children attend school and combine it with work, many learn very little and drop out early, leading to an intergenerational cycle of poverty at the household level. is a priority and matter of urgency. Recent statistics illustrate a slower pace of reduction in child labor, which is unacceptable, especially for the interlinked development goals This will require innovative and bold steps, as well as new and strengthened partnerships between and among governments, civil society, businesses and others. Lastly, what is most needed is genuine and reinvigorated political will with a sense of urgency and ownership in the spirit of ensuring justice to all children.