U.S. first lady promotes girls' education in London

Visiting U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday highlighted the importance of education for girls in London, calling for more opportunities for girls' education in poor countries.

The first lady, who is visiting Britain to promote her charity work, joined British International Development Secretary Justine Greening to launch a new five-year program in the Democratic Republic of Congo to support girls' education in the country.

Addressing an audience at Mulberry School for Girls in east London, Michelle said that education is the key to the pupils' future success.

The program will focus on helping girls who are out of school in conflict affected areas to get back into classrooms. It also includes work to tackle sexual and physical violence and intimidation in the classroom, and to give girls the skills they need to get a job and reintegrate into society.

The first lady launched the "Let Girls Learn" initiative to expand access of education for adolescent girls. She also met Prince Harry on Tuesday to discuss support measures for veterans and their families.

"We're training teachers, building classrooms and providing the poorest girls and boys with scholarships," Greening said in a statement.

Apart from providing immediate education opportunities, Britain and the United States will partner with international researchers to understand the obstacles that girls face in getting an education, British Department for International Development (DFID) announced.

Researchers will follow girls in poor countries from their early days at school to learn more about their challenges in receiving education.

Government departments in Britain and the United States will collaborate with researchers from Cambridge University and Georgetown University in the project, according to DFID. Endit