UK pledges cash for #Commonwealth education, urges #malaria fight

Prime Minister Theresa May pledged cash to help improve children’s education in the Commonwealth and called for a commitment from fellow leaders to tackle malaria on Tuesday (17 April), writes William James.

May’s government is looking to reinvigorate the Commonwealth, a 53-country network of mostly former British colonies, as it seeks to define its post-Brexit role in the world as a leader of free trade and active global citizens.

Speaking on the second day of a week-long Commonwealth meeting in London, May switched focus from trade, which she discussed on Monday, to humanitarian issues.

May commited 212 million pounds ($304m) to try to make sure children living in developing Commonwealth countries receive 12 years of quality education.

“I want this to be the summit where the Commonwealth agrees to make that the goal for all our members – and begins to put in place the concrete measures that will allow it to become a reality,” she said.

May spoke alongside Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, also touching on the need to reduce malaria deaths, saying around 90% of Commonwealth citizens live in countries where the disease is endemic.

“We cannot in good conscience, talk about the young people of the world, about securing a legacy for our children and grandchildren, without tackling a disease that, worldwide, kills one of them every two minutes,” she added.

($1 = 0.6983 pounds)

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