Info - Questions

What is the Global Campaign for Education?
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) is a global movement that believes everyone has the right to free good quality education.  We are made up of thousands of organisations, charities, teachers unions, schools, and millions of individuals in over 120 countries.  Every year we unite under one action and theme so that we cannot be ignored - together we are demanding that world leaders provide Education for All.  This happens in the last week of April every year during Global Action Week.  Find out more about GCE here.

What's the problem with Education?

72 million children are not in school, and 774 million adults cannot read and write.  Most of these people have been excluded from education for reasons including being poor, having to work instead of going to school, living with HIV, or living in rural areas, in areas of conflict, being disabled or simply being a girl.

What's so special about education?
Education is a human right. Every person in the world is entitled to their basic human rights that they need to survive. Among these basic rights are: education, shelter, food and security.  Not only is education an entitlement, but it is also crucial to tackling global poverty, improving health, halting the spread of HIV and AIDS, and enabling people to play a full, active part in their communities.

What's the Global Campaign for Education doing about it?

In 2008 the Global Campaign for Education is calling upon all governments to invest and commit in Quality Education to End Exclusion.  The world has the money and the know how to make sure everyone has a quality education.  All governments have a responsibility to make sure it happens.

The World's Biggest Lesson is taking place on the 23rd April 2008 and will unite millions of children, teachers, parents and campaigners in over 100 countries, as they carry out this world record breaking attempt.  They will be teaching their politicians, officials and government representatives and journalists not only their biggest but one of the most important lessons of their life.  This important lesson is about human rights, justice and responsibility.  Find out more about the World's Biggest lesson here:

More about the World's Biggest Lesson

Is there more information on the theme  'Quality Education to End Exclusion'?

If you want to find out more on the issues that lead to people being excluded from education you can download the policy briefing:

Policy Briefing (PDF)

Is there anywhere I can take part in a more in-depth discussion about Quality Education or Exclusion?

From the 1st - 30th April UNESCO is organising an online discussion to give more impetus to quality education and inclusion. Everyone is invited to exchange their views and experience on how to end exclusion and improve educational quality. In addition to the main topics of the forum, a special section will be available for comments and suggestions by children and young people.  Visit the online discussion forum here: www.unesco.org/education/en/efa/global-action-week/forum

What's the international community doing about getting everyone an education?

Education has been enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights since 1948. World Leaders have made many promises to make the right a reality. Most recently in 2000 when they signed up to the Education for All goals set for 2015, at the World Education Forum in Dakar.  Since this meeting in 2000 the Global Campaign for Education has been reminding world leaders of their promise. Every year we've not only targeted governments but also international milestones such as the G8.  Some governments are doing more than others. In fact due to commitment and resources from good performers - school fees have been dropped in many countries. Since GCE started campaigning, the number of children out of school has gone down from 100 million to 73 million.

What are the Education for All (EFA) Goals?

The EFA goals were agreed by over 180 countries at the World Education Forums in 1990 in Jometian and 2000 in Dakar.  These goals are set for 2015:

• Expand early childhood care and learning
• Provide free and compulsory primary Education for All
• Promote learning and life skills for young people and adults
• Increase adult literacy by 50%
• Achieve gender parity by 2005, and gender equality by 2015
• Improve the quality of education.

Which Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) focus on education?

As signed up to by 191 Heads of State at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000:

• Ensure that all boys and girls complete primary schooling by 2015.
• Eliminate gender disparities in primary education by 2005 and at all levels by 2015.

Significant progress has been made since 2000, but much remains to be done:

• In 2005 as many as 94 countries missed one of the Millennium Development Goals - getting an equal number of boys and girls into primary and secondary school.
• 37 million children have entered the school gates since 2000, but in order to reach the goal of universal primary education by 2015, all 73 million children still out of school need to have started school by next year.
• 18 million more teachers are needed if every child is to get a quality education.
• To get every child into school will cost $9 billion a year. For children and adults to get the quality education that has been promised to them will cost $16 billion a year.
• If all G7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK & US) actually gave the $5 billion aid they have promised, it would enable 60 million children to go to school. (That $5 billion is equivalent to European nations' spending on farming subsidies or the cost of four US Stealth Bomber planes.)

What's happening in my country?

Every country has a unique campaign that targets their own government to make sure they are doing their bit to make sure everyone has a quality education.  Find out what's going on in your country by visiting the relevant country page.

What's GCE's Action Week?

Every year the Global Campaign for Education coordinates an Action Week in April, as this was the time of year that the World Education Forum took place in 2000 in Dakar.  It was at this meeting that more than 180 world leaders met and agreed the 'Education For All' goals, hence the Global Campaign for Education sees it as a timely occasion to remind them of their promises.  The 2008 Action Week is taking place the 21st - 28th April, but is focusing on the World's Biggest Lesson on the 23rd April.  This is the sixth action week to date, in previous years more than 5.5 million campaigners have taken part in the week. 

Who are the members of GCE?

Although GCE is made up of campaigners in 120 countries, member organisations are the only ones who are allowed to vote in the GCE world assembly and steer the direction of the campaign.  Members must be either a recognised national coalition of education organisations, or an international organisation that campaigns for education rights, and has offices in more than one continent.  View the list of GCE's members here.

How do I contact the GCE international secretariat?

If you have questions that are not answered here or on the Global Campaign for Education website you can contact the secretariat by emailing info@campaignforeducation.org, or find the relevant member of the team here.

How can I see what is happening across the world as part of the World's Biggest Lesson?

The news section of this site will keep you updated on some of the highlights around the world, or if you want to find out what's happening in a specific country, visit the country pages.

How can I tell my friends about the World's Biggest Lesson?

It's very easy to tell your friends.  You can email them a message telling them about the World's Biggest Lesson:

Remember every person counts towards breaking the world record.