£430m pledge for global education
Boris Johnson has pledged £430 million in aid over five years to help get more than a billion of the world's most vulnerable children into school.
But campaigners said the money fell far short of what was required and criticised the "half measures" offered by the Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson made the promise as G7 leaders gathered in Cornwall to discuss the world's recovery from Covid-19.
Downing Street said the pandemic has caused an unprecedented global education crisis, with 1.6 billion children around the world out of school at its height with girls the worst affected.
The support announced by the UK will go to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the largest fund dedicated to education in developing countries.
The European Commission has already promised 700 million euro (around £600 million) to the fund while Italy has pledged 25
million euro (£21.5 million) and other G7 nations are also expected to contribute.
The Prime Minister said: "The best way we can lift countries out of poverty and lead a global recovery is by investing in education and particularly girls' education.
"It is a source of international shame that every day around the world children bursting with potential are denied the chance to become titans of industry, scientific pioneers or leaders in any field, purely because they are female, their parents' income or the place they were born,” Mr Johnson added.