We must meet the goal of giving every child their right to a basic education

Individuals who could read could study the Bible for themselves as well as read about the law, politics, business and the arts. It took many generations to achieve but their ambition and vision helped to remake society.

We know all about the importance of education, yet there are still millions of children around the world who are not in school. The Millennium Development Goals were adopted by world leaders in 2000. The United Nations said basic education was a right for every child, and the international community said every child in the world should be receiving an education by the end of 2015.

There has been some incredible progress. Last week the BBC presented a series of stories about the impact of education in Bangladesh, where many more girls are in school than 15 years ago. Despite some dramatic strides forwards, there are still around 59 million children who are not in school. The problems of poverty, child marriage, child labour and health are all relevant factors that make this such a hard goal to achieve.

The work is not over and the question of education in development was the focus of an international summit that took place in Oslo earlier this week. In September, the UN will agree new Sustainable Development Goals to replace the Millennium Development Goals, which will run to 2030.

A number of things would need to happen for every child to have access to education. Out of the 29 countries with the most children out of school, only 13 have strategies to deliver universal primary education. They will need plans and the ability to implement them.

Increased, better targeted and better co-ordinated donor funding is needed. Last year governments around the world spent $1.7 trillion on armaments and weapons. Yet it is estimated that $149 billion would have been needed in 2012 to achieve global universal primary and secondary education. If the global arms spend was reduced by less than nine per cent the goal for education could be achieved.

Commendably, the UK is the second-biggest donor to education globally, spending $354 million in 2013; only the USA spent more. We must persuade other rich countries to be generous as education is the best route for development.

Around half of children not in school are in conflict or emergency affected areas. Campaigners are calling for a new global fund to help provide education in emergencies. Children who are displaced or refugees often miss out on crucial years of education. An Education in Emergencies Fund would provide refugee and displaced children with their rights to education, and is being championed by the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Many of us take our education for granted. I ask you to think about what your education has helped you to achieve. We just need to look at places around the world where access to education is impossible to see how important it is. We can also imagine what a difference it would make if every child was able to access their right to a basic education.

I began with a glance back to our history and the Church's commitment in education. What about the future? What is our vision, and what do we want the world to be like in the future, even if it takes generations?

#UpForSchool is the name of campaign from the organisation A World At School. People across the world are being invited to sign a petition, which they can do online or with pen and paper. The petition is urging world leaders to keep education in the context of development a key priority as they approach a final decision on the UN Sustainable Development Goals in September. It has already gathered nearly seven million signatories. We enjoy the advantages of our education. Let us show our support for everyone to have the same benefit.

I encourage readers seriously to consider signing this admirable petition.