Discussing policy and celebrating our 20th anniversary

Many members of the Global Campaign for Education are gathered in Tunis this week for a series of important meetings.

01

The Arab Campaign for Education for All (ACEA) convened for its annual meeting to discuss policy, governance and elected a new President from the Lebanese coalition for Education (ANPE).

Discussing SDG 4 with civil society under the UNESCO patronage

From the 2nd to the 4th, UNESCO invited civil society organisations from across the globe to discuss SDG4 and with a particular focus on the question of inclusion in education.

The 2 days conference was opened with inspiring speeches from Stefania Giannini (UNESCOA Assistant- Director General for Education), Refat Sabbah (President of the Global Campaign for Education and Director of ACEA) and the Minister of Education of Tunisia. The Minister particularly highlighted the need for civil society to address the current challenges with operational recommendations for governments to implement.

The role of teachers, the importance of adult education, the issue of allocating budgets and sufficient financing, alternative community solutions to fight prejudices amongst other topics were discussed in the various panels where GCE members played a leading role.

New members for the Collective Consultation of NGO (CCNGO) coordination group were elected. GCE confirmed its position as the international representative for civil society organisations through the nomination of its President Refat Sabbah. Other members were either reelected or newly nominated, like Paulin Junior Kouame from Ivory Coast (RIP-EPT) or Rasheda Choudhury from Bangladesh (CAMPE).

02

Celebrating 20 years of fighting for the right to education together

On the evening of the 3rd, GCE organised a gala dinner for all CCNGO participants. The theme of the party was to celebrate 20 years of fighting together to achieve the right to education for all.

The evening was hosted by our Masters of Ceremony Bernie Lovegrove (ASPBAE), Heba E’tifat (ACEA), Cheikh Mbow (COSYDEP) and Madeleine Zuñiga (CPDE). The GCE opening video, with important words from Kailash Satyarthi, one of GCE founder and its first President, set the stage before Samuel Dembélé (GCE Board Chair and ANCEFA President) opened the evening, followed by Refat Sabbah (GCE President and ACEA Director) and Jordan Naidoo (UNESCO) who delivered inspiring keynote speeches.

David ArcherAction Aid, and Rasheda Choudhury (CAMPE) shared insightful anecdotes about the beginnings of the movement and recalled the early days of collective action, while

Andressa Pellanda (BCRE), who was 9 years old when GCE was created, indicated the way forward in the years to come.

Among the highlights of the evening was also the powerful poem, dedicated to the crucial role of teachers, delivered by the amazing 15-years old Taycir.

03

Looking forward with the GCE Board meeting

The following days will be more dedicated to serious conversations and decision-making as this week of meetings will end with the gathering of the GCE Board. GCE Board members will discuss the position of the movement on several policy issues, the theme of the next Global Action Week for Education and topics related to strengthening our collective action.

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The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) is a civil society movement that aims to end exclusion in education. Education is a basic human right, and our mission is to make sure that governments act now to deliver the right of everyone to a free, quality, public education.