Sep 21, 2016 09:13 AM EDT By Chris Brandt, UniversityHerald Reporter

Shakira has recently been a part of a global initiative along with some of the world's top leaders and businessman that puts some premium on education. The group aims to provide more opportunities for children around the world by investing more in education.

The report called "The Learning Generation: Investing in education for a changing world," said that a $1 investment to every child, especially girls, will generate $10 in earnings and health benefits in low-income countries and $4 in middle-income countries.

"A quarter of a billion children and young people are out of school. Another 330 million are not learning because we fail to invest in them even when they are in school," the report said.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who chairs the meeting, added that 200 million children do not receive proper education in the Middle East and North Africa which is a "recipe for seething discontent."

This discontent, if not addressed earlier and appropriately will have serious implications on security. He also mentioned that Americans should have a better understanding how education plays an important role in geopolitical stability.

His opinion is not supported by all, however. A year earlier, economists from 44 countries called upon the United Nations and demanded that health should be prioritized. Brown argued that health has been the priority for the past 15 years and nothing happened.

"I think we should reemphasize education. It's education that unlocks the gains in health, employment, environment, and quality of life. Education is the key to an anti-poverty strategy," he further argued.

The meeting was also attended and supported by Alibaba founder and CEO Jack Ma, the prime minister of Norway, and the presidents of Chile, Malawi, and Indonesia. Its commissioners include former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former Mexican President Felipe Calderón while some of its directors include Harvard economist Lawrence Summers and former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

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