Graham visited Whitegate Primary School to hear from pupils about a campaign to get every child worldwide into primary school with the Send My Friend to School project organised by the Global Campaign for Education UK.
Graham said: “The United Nations estimates show that there is a global shortage of 1.7 million teachers, with 1 million needed in Africa alone. In the year 2000, world leaders made a promise that every child would receive a quality primary education by 2015. However, there are still over 60 million children missing out on even a basic primary education, with millions more struggling to learn in crowded classes and with unqualified teachers.
“The schoolchildren made brightly coloured and symbolic cut-out teachers to represent the 1.7 million teachers missing from schools around the world. Education should be a right, not a privilege.
“I think it is fantastic that pupils at Whitegate Primary school are taking action and supporting this great project to bring primary education to the world.”