The European Union(EU) will contribute 375 million euros (510 million US dollars) to support education in developing countries over the next seven years, European Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs announced on Thursday.

The new funding, on top of the EU's ongoing commitment to education, will provide basic education in nearly 60 countries through the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), whose mission is to galvanize and coordinate a global effort to provide a good quality education to children.

Announcing the commitment, Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said: "As a former teacher myself, I have always been strongly committed to ensuring that all children receive a quality education, no matter where they live. That's why we are proud to partner with the GPE on today's event - it shows our firm ongoing commitment to education, and I hope today's event will also encourage other donors to redouble their efforts; not only to get children into schools but also to improve the standards of education they receive there."

The EU and its member states have contributed more than 75 percent of GPE Fund in 2004-2013. Total EU funding for education in developing countries is expected total some 4.5 billion euros between 2014 and 2020, according to the European Commission. (1 euro = 1.36 U.S. dollars) Endi

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