Sir — Reading your double-page spread on record GCSE results across Oxfordshire, it occurred to me how much we take our access to education for granted.

Seventy-three million children worldwide aren't in education. Almost half of those live in conflict-affected countries. But Britain gives only 16 per cent of its overseas development education budget to conflict zones. Why is that?

Do we think it's a waste of time supporting education in countries at war? If so, we couldn't be more wrong. It is those children who need education more than ever. Initially, as an alternative to taking up arms themselves and, longer term, to help them understand the value of peace.

If the international community's development goals are to mean anything ("Universal Primary Education by 2015"), donor countries need to start allocating aid proportionately.

Education is not only a fundamental human right, it's the only way future generations will have any chance of achieving politically stable countries with skilled and versatile people.

Sally-Ann Woodrow, Bucknell