Investing in education is in all our interests. Education provides children with the best route out of poverty, giving them the power to improve their own lives and that of their country, which will ultimately reduce developing countries' reliance on aid. Globally we must push for education for both girls and boys. As you rightly suggest, evidence shows that when a girl in the developing world receives seven or more years of education, it has a strong positive impact: she marries later, has fewer and healthier children, and is more likely to be economically productive. But it is not just about having the chance to go to school, children must be well taught and what they learn must improve their opportunities in life.
I am proud that between 2011 and 2015, the Department for International Development supported over 11 million children, including 5.3 million girls, in primary and lower secondary education in developing countries. The Government has committed to helping at least another 11 million children in the poorest countries gain a decent education by 2020. DFID is on track to deliver this, having supported 7.1 million children to gain a decent education between 2015 and 2017. This is a huge investment in a better future for these children.
DFID has been the largest bilateral donor to the Global Partnership for Education, providing £210 million for the 2015-2018 replenishment period. The replenishment conference, which will be hosted by France and Senegal in February 2018, will provide an excellent opportunity to bring more finance into the education sector. I know that DFID officials are currently in discussion about the replenishment and I will continue to follow any announcements with interest.
