The World’s Biggest Lesson

News

Here are the latest country updates:

Afghanistan – A new coalition means that this country is taking part for the first time. Posters are being distributed around Kabul and in schools in 13 provinces. The national lesson is taking place in Isteqlal High School in Kabul, with the President Hamid Karzai and Minister of Education expected to attend and give speeches. The lesson will end with a concert of famous Afghan singers.

Armenia – Many important decision makers including the Ministry of Education are taking part in the World's Biggest Lesson.

Bangladesh – A host of activities are taking place including children's rallies, art competitions, street plays and discussions on the theme of exclusion in education.

Brazil – Events across the country will communicate the results of a recent consultation on quality education in Brazil to teachers, students and pupils.

Bulgaria – More people than ever before are involved in Global Action Week, with as many as 1,000 schools being contacted to take part in the World's Biggest Lesson.

Burkina Faso – Both the Prime Minister M Zongo Tertus, and the Minister of Education look set to attend the World's Biggest Lesson on the 23rd April, whilst similar lessons will be taking place in all regions of the country.

Cambodia – His Majesty the King will take part in the World's Biggest Lesson and be taught by children who've been excluded from education and adult learners.

Cameroon - The Minister for Basic Education will attend the World's Biggest Lesson alongside other education officials. Throughout the country more than 8000 people will take part in the officials 'Back to School' events. There will also be workshops with school children and a televised roundtable event on Quality Education.

Canada – Schools across the country are taking part in the World's Biggest Lesson with a specially designed curriculum pack that informs students about the issues of excluded people in education.

Colombia – Local celebrities are turning up to the World's Biggest Lesson in each of the four regions: Quindio, Costa Atlantica, Antioquia and Cundiboyacense.

Denmark – Close to 200,000 school students now have a special Danish 'Action Week' book called 'Læseraketten' that tells stories about education in poor countries. Schools use the book to get ready for the World's Biggest Lesson – in which the Minister for Education is taking part.

Dominican Republic – More than 300 schools are taking part, compiling reports and writing letters to political leaders about exclusion in education that will be delivered to the National Congress.

Ecuador – 'Dialogues for Education' will take place in schools throughout the country, to raise awareness about quality education for all. Education institutions will also give a present to their neighbourhood, by planting trees, painting a mural or cleaning the parks.

France – Local politicians throughout France will be taking part in the World's Biggest Lesson as they've been invited back to school or to the town hall by their constituents. Nationally it's hoped that children will teach the French legislators in the French Assembly as part of the World's Biggest Lesson. The National President will also be petitioned to give financial support to achieve Education for All.

Gambia – The popular Gambian musician Jaliba Kuyateh will lead the World's Biggest Lesson which will unite thousands of people, in western Gambia, as they are given the country's highlight lesson in both English and Arabic.

Georgia – The President, Head of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers and MPs and more than 3,000 schools, have been invited to take part in the World's Biggest Lesson.

Germany – Chancellor Angela Merkel has been invited to take part in the World's Biggest Lesson outside the German Reichstag (Parliament Building) at the end of which she will be handed her school report card marking her grades on providing Education for All.

Guatemala – Officials, students, parents and teachers are attending a photograph exhibition, that will display the situation of lack of quality education for everyone and those who've been marginalised from school.

Honduras – Students will march to the Presidential House at the start of Action Week, after which politicians will return 'Back to School' to be taught by students, and an 'Education Changes Life' forum will bring together stakeholders to discuss 'Quality Education to End Exclusion'.

Ireland – Once again schools and students across Ireland will take part in the Action Week activities. A major event, to be held at the new Irish Aid, Government Communications Centre, will communicate to Government Ministers the issue of children who are excluded from school.

Japan – More than 10,000 students will take part in the World's Biggest Lesson in over 100 schools. In Tokyo the Education Fast Track Initiative Secretariat and officials from the Ministry of Education are going to class in a lower secondary school and meeting students over school lunch.

Jordan – The Ministry of Education, National Commission for UNESCO, Educational Directorates, Schools and NGOs will all take part in the official ceremony of the World's Biggest Lesson on the 23rd April.

Kenya – The World's Biggest Lesson is taking place in a Nairobi slum, the lesson will focus on how to address the needs of those who've faced violence, and been excluded from school following the recent elections.

Lebanon – Students and adult learners across the country will take part in the World's Biggest Lesson – culminating in a Grand Ceremony at 1pm on the 24th April.

Lesotho – Politicians and community leaders will go back to schools in the rural disadvantaged of the country. Here they will witness difficulties such as poor school infrastructure, over crowded classrooms, and dilapidated learning materials.

Malawi – The Minister of Education, Minister of Finance and other prominent leaders will sit in class during the World's Biggest Lesson where they'll be handed a dossier of information about the lack of quality education to everyone, by the education coalition.

Mauritius –Preparation is underway for the "World's Biggest Lesson" with schools being sensitized for meeting their municipal councilors. There will also be a rally of children who've been marginalized from education, they'll then meet MPs, community leaders and religious leaders.

Mozambique – 'Major Aula' (the World's Biggest Lesson) is taking place in schools across the country, and for some involved it will be their first chance at sitting in class – including children who've been excluded from education because of poverty, being orphaned or disabled and adult learners. The Minister of Education will be taught the lesson by children at a big event in Maputo.

Nigeria – Executives and Members of the House of Representatives, Senate and Top Government officials will return to school with journalists to take part in the World's Biggest Lesson.

Norway – The Prime Minister has been invited to attend the World's Biggest Lesson. The lesson will discuss not only how to influence the Norwegian government, but global leaders at the next High Level Group on Education taking place in Oslo in December.

Pakistan - The World's Biggest Lesson will take place in 40 districts with politicians joining schools and local community groups to be part of the lesson. There will be public rallies, walks and seminars at district, provincial and national level.

Palestine – Thousands of people are expected to take part in the West Bank and Gaza. The Minister of Education and Minister of Finance are expected to attend the highlight event where they'll meet with children who've been marginalised from school. One school is making an international link via video with a school in USA for the lesson.

Papua New Guinea – Thousands of students and hundreds of adult learners are taking part in the World's Biggest Lesson. A radio show will air discussions about 'Education to End Exclusion', with the Prime Minster and Secretary for Education on the panel.

Peru – As part of the World's Biggest Lesson GCE's school report card for Peru will be presented to Ministers, Congressmen and Members of the National Council for Education in Lima, at which children and parents will give their testimonies on the difficulties in accessing quality education in Peru.

Philippines – Department of Education officials will attend the World's Biggest Lesson on the 23rd, where they'll view a creative display of messages about education in the form of kits, and umbrella displays. Local NGOs and officials will jointly compile lists of children and young people who're not in school take to the government ahead of the next budget meetings

Rwanda – Nationwide World's Biggest Lesson events and a press conference will bring the issue of huge class sizes, and exclusion in education, to the special attention of the government and public.

Sierra Leone – Officials are going 'Back to School' and will take part in a 'Quality Education to End Exclusion' symposium. There will be a World's Biggest Lesson and the Minister of Education will take part in a breakfast meeting on education and children will take part in a float parade that will ask for re-commitment to Education for All.

Spain – The World's Biggest Lesson is taking place in at least 16 city councils and authority buildings on the 24th April (as the 23rd is a holiday). Specially designed puzzles will be played as part of the lesson – to play students will compile the special ingredients needed to for 'Education to End Exclusion'.

Sri Lanka – School students are compiling dossiers on 'Quality Education for All' to deliver to the Head of State, Minister of Education and Cabinet Ministers during the World's Biggest Lesson.

Sudan – the World's Biggest Lesson looks set to take place in areas of Sudan. In El Dain pastoralist children will meet with decision makers to discuss the situation in their schools. In El Genena the issue of providing education to internally displaced people camps will be discussed, and in South Kurdufan Kadugly there will be a school registration campaign for girls.

Uganda – The parliament will be petitioned to re-discuss and legislate the Education Bill that has been stalled for some time. This bill is a repeal of the 1971 Education Act and will introduce clauses on providing free, compulsory schooling to every child in Uganda.

UK – As part of the World's Biggest Lesson, Douglas Alexander, the Secretary of State for International Development will be taught by school children outside the parliamentary buildings in Westminster.

Uruguay – Schools have been sending politicians postcards inviting them to take part in the World's Biggest Lesson to end exclusion and provide quality education to all students.

USA – Grammy award winning artist, Shakira will appear beside school students on Capitol Hill on the 22nd April to raise awareness for the bipartisan Education for All Act 2007. There is also a special USA – Palestine 'World's Biggest Lesson' as two schools take the lesson by video link-up. In Boulder, the lesson will be lead by Kenyan Peace Activist, Karambu Ringera – and after class the participants will send a letter to the current G8 chair, the President of Japan to take a lead in providing Education for All.

Venezuela – Several schools are holding the World's Biggest Lesson and inviting leaders back to school to discuss the issue of providing Quality Education to All.

Vietnam – The World's Biggest Lesson will take place simultaneously in all 64 provinces and cities nationwide with the Ministry of Education and Training and UNESCO in attendance.

Zambia – Children will march up to the World's Biggest Lesson in which the Zambia's Vice President, and Minister of Education and Community Development will be taught by the Lusaka Freedom Statue.

Zimbabwe – Despite political tensions plans are still going ahead for the World's Biggest Lesson events in Zimbabwe.

Watch here as we keep you updated with the latest news about the World's Biggest Lesson. And do keep emailing your stories, pictures and updates to:
actionweek@campaignforeducation.org