Universal primary education is "the single most effective preventive weapon against HIV/AIDS," says a new report by Oxfam International. But donor countries are failing to come up with even the minimal funds they have pledged to support African countries under an optimistically named "Fast Track Initiative" to expand education funding. This latest edition of the AfricaFocus Bulletin includes excerpts from the press release and executive summary from Oxfam International launching the "Learning to Survive" report, and a short extract from that report on funding shortfalls in Niger, one of the Fast Track countries where donors have failed to provide promised support.

Participants at a one-day conference on education have expressed fears over the realisation of education for all by the year 2015. The fear was hinged on the attitudes of parents, students, as well as government on ways of enhancing education, which they agreed could hinder global projection of education for all. Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Chief Bisi Taiwo, said some parents deliberately deny their children access to schools. Instead, they prefer to assist their children make instant money through cart-pushing, scavenging and hawking at motor parks.

As part of the global Education for All Week, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is calling for increased efforts to reduce the disproportionate number of girls denied schooling. “As long as millions of girls are denied a basic education, we stand little chance of improving the lives of the world’s poorest people,” UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy says in a message. “Education is not only the key to a young girl's personal fulfilment, but it is essential for reducing poverty, stopping HIV/AIDS, and achieving all other development goals.”

Protesting Wits University students tried to break into the main library and the closed cafeteria on the campus as they protested against the slashing of financial aid. Earlier they barged into lecture halls on the east campus turning desks over and tearing up engineering students' exam papers, in a successful bid to halt classes, a reporter on the scene said. Meanwhile a group of Wits academics have written a letter protesting about the heavy police presence on campus. Click on the link below to read the letter.