A leading higher education program aimed at keeping 1 million girls in school across Africa, Asia and the Middle East has been scrapped by the British government just two years after it was announced. The Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment (SHEFE) scheme had a £45 million budget.

In May, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed her commitment to women and girls, declaring them a priority. However, the decision to cancel the program contradicts these pledges.

Bambos Charalambous, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on global education, expressed alarm. He noted that girls who benefit from higher education are up to six times less likely to marry as children and less likely to experience partner violence.

Experts in international development claim the move severely undermines the UK's professed commitment to women and girls. The Home Office has also blocked study visas for applicants from Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar and Cameroon.

Joseph Nhan-O'Reilly, co-founder of the International Parliamentary Network for Education, said: "The government talks up its commitment to women and girls but at every turn it denies the world's most marginalized girls access to higher education." He added that the FCDO also canceled the £150 million Education for All program in South Sudan.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced last year that the UK aid budget would be cut from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI by 2027, the lowest level on record. This reversed Labour manifesto pledges and led to the resignation of international development minister Anneliese Dodds.

An FCDO spokesperson said the cuts were to fund increased defense spending. "National security is the first duty of this government," they said. Critics have called the decision a "betrayal of the sector."

Source: www.theguardian.com