The 2000-2001 biennium was marked by the Education for All 2000 Assessment (EFA 2000), prepared within the framework of the World Education Forum, held in Dakar, Senegal, from 26 to 28 April 2000.

The EFA 2000 Assessment was an unprecedented effort to establish a global picture of basic education. It presents the national assessments of the progress achieved since Jomtien in 183 countries, the problems encountered and the recommendations for the future.
Despite the efforts made, the situation is still one of concern in sub-Saharan Africa "where progress has been most difficult to achieve". It is the only region in the world in which the number of out-of-school children (40 million) continues to increase instead of decreasing. The gross enrolment rate (GER) for primary schooling (78%) is still virtually at the same level as twenty years ago in 1980 (79.5%).
Gender equality has tended to improve in primary schools in many regions, with the notable exception of sub-Saharan Africa. School wastage is reaching alarming proportions in Africa. The threat posed by HIV/AIDS on the achievement of EFA objectives and, beyond, on development in general, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, is a considerable challenge, added to the problems of poverty, indebtedness and armed conflicts.