Can we afford it?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.express.co...ls-in-Asia-and-Africa

Is there no end to our generosity, we have a right team here we might have as well all voted Lib/Dem, and Cameron should go over to them for all he is worth, as a Tory.

First we had the Gays can be married fiasco, then the plan to remove the need to display one's gender on pass-ports, so that transgenders don't feel embarrassed, all Lib-Dem ideas.

http://www.google.com...N0460821316422787599A

And now this dishing out of cash, when there are some of our own school children leaving school not able to read or write.

[MaryDou]

Who on earth voted Lib Dem - that's what I want to know. But this country is now being led by minorities - do the damn job we put you there to do Cameron never mind other countries - time enough when this country gets back on its feet.

If I hear the words "Lib Dem Conference" again this week I may have to be carted off. Such a load of drivel - aimed at the weak-minded. It seems to be "What shall we do this week to annoy the electorate?"

Of course it would help if even one of these people had a slight understanding of what it is like to work for their living!!

[Gromit]

Education has had an astronomical amout of cash thrown at it over the last 15 years, so I suspect anyone leaving school unable to read and write would still do so if they had this £355million.

Before Cameron knew he would be in a coaltion with Clegg, he always said overseas aid would be ringfenced, so blaming the Lib/Dems is misplaced.

[emmie]

so it's alright to educate girls overseas, but not in Britain, that thinking takes some beating.

[Gromit]

Em10

That is a stupid thing to say. Girls are being educated in Britain.

[emmie]

Gromit, if money can't be found here, for the basics in education, then surely it stands to reason that we can't afford to send billions in aid, to educate children overseas. If you listen to many children these days, some of us do, then you would never guess that education had played a part in their lives. How do so many come out of school unable to read or write.
That fact alone makes me wonder where all the money that's supposedly been pumped into schools in the past, has gone.

[emmie]

so where does the money come from then, if not the British taxpayer.

[jackthehat]

You have 3 posted separate items.
Item 1 - the issue of Foreign Aid has been dealt with many times on here.

Item 2 and 3 - I'd be interested to know quite how you think they will cost 'the Country' anything.

[emmie]

trig, you are ignoring the fact that many people here cannot afford to do the things we are offering to other countries. Put our own people first, then we could afford to be charitable. By the way what happens to the billions given in aid around the world, do you reckon the people see much of it, those starving in Africa, Asia, i very much doubt it. It goes into the pockets of greedy despots, politicians, who will squander it on more armaments to kill more of their own citizens, Mugabe, Gadaffi, to name just two.

[bednobs]

i don't get how people are saying money isn't spent on education in this country. Every child has to by law be schooled!

[ichkeria]

We had this before with the idea that sending out foreign aid means we have no money for widening motorways(!)
We spend a massive amount on education. When Tony Blair was making up the drastic underspend in education during the last government, many protested that you "can't throw money" at education.
Now, it seems, only limitless buckets of cash will help literacy.
I suspect - heavily - that money is not the issue with this particular problem

[ladybirder]

<<I suspect - heavily - that money is not the issue with this particular problem>>. Agreed.

[anotheoldgit]

/// But the move infuriated opponents of the Coalition’s policy of raising overseas aid to a massive £12.6billion a year by 2015 – equivalent to nearly £500 for every household in Britain. ///

/// The Deputy Prime Minister’s promise of cash for countries including South Sudan, Nigeria and Bangladesh also came as it emerged that a literacy drive in British schools is to be axed.///

Hold on a minute aren't these countries primarily Muslim, where they don't generally educate Girls, so what are we doing interfering in their culture?

[ichkeria]

Girls ARE educated in Moslem countries - althought I can't state with total confidence that that applies universally.
It is true though that cultural and religious factors often limit girls' development - for example leaving school early to marry, etc.

[Gromit]

// Gromit, if money can't be found here, for the basics in education... //

But it can. We have not stop spending on Education, and we definitely still educate girls. When did you think we had stopped?

[emmie]

when i listened to some recently, money down the drain. Money spent on education in Britain may not be the issue, but overseas aid is.

[Gromit]

But this thread is about overseas aid and education here. Who told you UK children were no longer getting the basics in education?

[DrFilth]

i have said it before and will say it again

if we are in such a bad state financially after labour were in power and we have to tighten our belts

where the f*** is cameron getting all this money from to give to people all around the world