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W: Good evening, everybody. Despite efforts from all sides, school safety is still a problem in many countries. A United Nations representative wants international support for programs aimed at helping 28 million boys and girls return to school. The children are unable to continue their education because of wars and crises around the world. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is the UN’s Special Envoy for Global Education. We invite him to join our program now. Thank you for joining us, Mr. Brown.
    M: Thank you, Mary.
    W: I noticed once you said in a TV show that schools were once safe places for children but things changed a lot especially in war-ridden regions. Could you be more specific about this?
    M: Sure. Sadly though, many schools are increasingly becoming instruments of war. In the past five  years, there were more than 10,000 attacks on schools.
    W: I am sorry to hear that.  Is this why you are working on urging the international community to spend more  money to make schools safer?
    M: Yes. I have proposed creation of an international humanitarian fund for education in emergencies.
    W: And you have said in an announcement: "It is our moral duty to make sure that every single child in the world can enjoy the basic right to education—free of terror, free of fear, and with the support of the international community. "How are you going to carry out this noble duty?
    M: I am thinking about new uses of technology to improve school safety. For example, a pilot program has been launched in Pakistan. Three months ago, the Pakistani Taliban killed 140 children at a school in the city of Peshawar. Pakistani officials are now working with Predictify, a technology company based in the United States. Under the "Pakistan Safe Schools" program,  schools will use new computer software to test their safety plans. The results of the testing will help school officials prepare better for emergencies.
    W: Sounds quite encouraging. Does it work well in Pakistan?
    M: Well, it is a major step forward in a country where more than five million children do not go to school. More than 1, 000 schools have been destroyed in the past five years in one Pakistan province. The technology will make it possible to learn what schools and governments are doing to prevent attacks on schools.
    W: What else did the international community do to improve the safety of these miserable children?
    M: The UN representative also called for the release of the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants. Nigeria has the highest number of children who cannot attend school of any country.
    W: What has the program achieved so far?
    M: The UN’s Safe Schools initiative has collected $30 million for protecting Nigerian schools.  It helps young people get back to learning by sending students to different schools.
    W: What is your next step then?
    M: I am working with the Lebanese government on what has been called a "double shift" plan. Under the plan, Lebanese children would attend public schools in the morning and Syrian children would attend the same schools in the afternoon.
    W: What else do you want to say to our audience then?
    M: It is time for the international community to wake up and deal with the problems facing children. The world should protect their rights and stop turning its back on these young victims of war.
    W: Thank you for attending our program.
    1. How many attacks have happened on schools in the past five years?
    2. How should we describe Mr. Brown’s mission?
    3. How is Mr.  Brown going to carry out his program?
    4. Which of the following countries has the highest number of children who can’t go to school?
    5. What does this interview mainly talk about?