Washington, DC — The World Bank announced Wednesday that it is asking 23 developing nations to become part of an "Education For All Fast Track" that aims to guarantee quality primary education for all children in all nations by the year 2015. Thirteen of the countries are from Africa, where according to an Oxfam report, 45 million of 125 million children aged between 6-11, and out of school, can be found.

The group of 23 is part of a larger group of 88 low and middle-income countries, that according to the Bank in a statement, "without special national and global efforts, will not achieve the [UN millennium development] goal of a complete primary education for every girl and every boy by 2015."

The "key lessons" of aid effectiveness, said World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn at a press conference, shows "that financing this EFA [Education-For-All] Fast Track for all countries in need would be one of the most compelling and sensible development investments ever made."

Countries eligible for fast-tracking can receive addditional financing for their primary education programs. To quality, countries must commit to policies aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of their primary education systems although this standard is not yet fully developed.

Part of the criteria, however, is that a full "Poverty Reduction Strategy" be in place by the end of August 2002, and that implementation of a "sector-wide" plan for education agreed to with donors be underway.

In September, the Bank expects to have completed consultations on education targets and financing needs with eligible countries.