Back Malala Day to show our support for education

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An Abbey ward councillor last night called on the council to hold a special event to mark next month’s birthday of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban.

Labour’s Bet Tickner says Reading should salute Malala on World Day for Education on Friday, July 12, set up in her honour for campaigning for girls’ education. Malala, who will be 16 this year, will spend her birthday giving a speech on education at the United Nations Assembly in New York. In preparing her motion – set to be seconded by Ellie Emberson, chair of Reading’s youth cabinet – Cllr Tickner said: “As the G8 meets in Ireland, we should remember that one of the millennium development goals is that all children are enrolled in primary education by 2015 – not long now. “By 2010, 90 per cent of the world’s children were, but that still leaves 61 million children out of school. “Educating girls also supports the education, and the health and wellbeing, of the next generation. “The attack on Malala, who at the age of 12 was campaigning for girls to be educated in her part of Pakistan, shows the brutality of some of the forces opposed to girls’ education, but her resistance has been an inspiration to those promoting it in Pakistan and across the world.” Miss Emberson, 14, from Coley, said: “We as Reading Youth Cabinet aim to have people’s voices heard in Reading, especially young people’s. “Malala Day is doing exactly that, but on a much larger scale, educating people on Malala and her campaign, meaning people both young and old can better understand what is going on in the world, and how valuable education is.” In carrying the motion, the council would give the green light to an event being held on July 12 at the Civic Centre, where Malala’s story will be told. From 10am to 2.30pm, workshops will give young people, school representatives and councillors the chance to share ideas on young people’s education and opportunities.