Lette backs girls' schooling

Published on Sunday 20 September 2009 21:52

NOVELIST Kathy Lette is backing a campaign calling for more school places for girls in the world's poorest countries.

The writer has spoken out in support of the Because I am a Girl campaign by anti-poverty group Plan International.

A report published today estimates the cost of not educating girls around the world runs into billions of pounds.

Ms Lette said: "In the developing world, girls are often little more than runners-up in the human race.

"In this era of financial instability, when the only bank we can count on is the sperm bank, girls are fed last and least."

Plan International's Because I am a Girl report states a 1 per cent rise in the number of girls attending secondary school boosts a country's annual per capita income growth by 0.3 per cent.