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| Gordon Brown in Maputo/David Fish/ActionAid | Nelson Mandela greets GCE campaigners/David Fish/ActionAid | Paul Weinberg / Oxfam / South Africa |
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Past Issues - March 2007 Note: Most hyperlinks will open in a new window. Please close the new window in order to be automatically returned to the GCE site. GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION URGES DONORS TO GIVE RESOURCES NOT RHETORIC; EDUCATION CONFERENCE IN 50 DAYS Activists from hundreds of organizations around the world, united under the banner 'Global Campaign for Education' (GCE) today welcomed Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development's announcement of an exceptional high-level donor conference on education in Brussels this spring. Michel used the informal meeting of EU development ministers in Bonn to announce 'Keeping Our Promises in Education' which he will convene along with, the World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, and UK Chancellor Gordon Brown on May 2 nd. Campaigners say the event offers the best opportunity in five years for rich countries to cast aside the remaining obstacles to the achievement of Education for All, including making real and substantial financial commitments to support countries' education plans. At the 2000 World Education Forum in Dakar, governments agreed to a range of targets to give every child and adult a fair chance at a decent education by 2015. GCE therefore looks forward to top-level participation in the donor conference to deliver a breakthrough, including, crucially, from the EU Presidency and G8 Host, Germany, say spokespeople. We see this as a key moment for achieving the long-awaited resolution of an education crisis that leaves 80 million children out of school and almost a billion adults unable to read and write. Since 1999 we have been waiting for world leaders to pledge and disperse serious money to end this global scandal. With just fifty days between now and the donor conference, campaigners will be calling on their governments to make 2 nd May a remarkable day for future generations. Kailash Satyarthi (President of the Global Campaign for Education and Global March against Child Labour) Education supporters noted that progress on May 2nd is crucial, as the next two years are decisive in reaching Education for All by 2015, the targets agreed by world leaders. For example, to meet the goal of universal primary completion by 2015, all children need to start school by 2009. Imagine what a different world we would live in if all children could complete school; if the millions or children currently left waiting at the school gates, were taught and inspired by teachers that fed their dreams and nurtured their intelligence. We could give young people this chance. The chance to take part in democracy, to protect their family from illness, to communicate in times of conflict, to be future citizens of the world and lead the world out of extreme poverty. Rasheda Choudhury
Director, Campaign for Popular Education, Bangladesh Recent research findings show that progress is possible; since 2000 the number of children out of school has gone down from over 100 million to 80 million, and the gender gap in education is closing. Aid to education – especially in poorer countries – is inching up, but much more needs to be done. Seven years since the World Education Forum in Dakar the resources required have not been committed. The Global Campaign for Education estimates at least $12 billion per year extra will be needed to achieve EFA. This is equivalent to just 0.1 per cent of global military expenditure annually. GCE's rallying cry for 2007 is 'JOIN UP Education Rights Now'. The theme was inspired by Nelson Mandela's words to young GCE campaigners in April 2006: "You might think that you are powerless, but if all the world's children join together, they can be more powerful than any government". In 120 countries, including the world's richest nations, campaigners will be coming together to form the world's longest chain to remind the powerful of their promises. Activities will intensify during GCE's Global Action Week, 23 rd – 29th April, when supporters will be taking the chance to maximize pressure ahead of the May 2nd meeting .The message they will be sending to politicians is – Do something great! Give everyone an education! We're relieved that world leaders have not forgotten the promises they made in Dakar seven years ago, but we don't need another talking shop on education; let us see a new chapter of actions, not words. Gorgui Sow
12th March Co-ordinator African Network Campaigns on Education For All GET ALL GIRLS INTO SCHOOL AND GIVE THEM A FIGHTING CHANCE AGAINST HIV Across the world today, 1 in every 5 girls of primary school age are not in school. When girls miss out, not only are they denied the chance to learn to read and write, earn a living and participate in democracy, it also puts their lives in jeopardy. Education gives women and girls the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to protect themselves against HIV and AIDS. The Global Campaign for Education is calling on world leaders to JOIN UP and take urgent action now. They must ensure everyone, especially girls, can go to school and get the education needed to fight for their rights. Poorer countries need to enact policies that will make school free, accessible and safe for girls and boys, whilst rich countries must live up to promises repeatedly made, and still not fulfilled, to increase aid in support of these policies. "World leaders barely raised an eyebrow when we missed the Millennium Development Goal to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education. Shockingly 94 countries missed this target. Two years on it is a travesty that the international community continues to stand by as millions of girls are denied their rights to a life-saving education." (Maria Khan, GCE Board Member & ASPBAE)
Around the world 80 million children, mostly girls, are out of school. 800 million adults, mostly women, cannot read and write. Yet free education has been enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights since 1948. Giving girls' the chance to learn to read and write not only fulfils their right to an education – but it also helps them in challenging the many power imbalances between men and women, and crucially in protecting themselves against HIV. In a survey carried out last year 30% of girls in South Africa said that their first sexual experience was under force or threat of force. When it comes to HIV and AIDS women and girls fare the worst – accounting for 74% of young people living with HIV in Africa. At present many women simply do not have the power they need to decide who to have sex with, when to have sex and how to have safe sex. Education can give women a chance to challenge this situation. The more education women and girls receive, the better they are able to negotiate safer sex and HIV rates. This is clearly demonstrated in Swaziland, where 2 in 3 girls who are in school are HIV negative, while 2 in 3 of girls out of school are HIV positive. Girls who complete primary school are 50% less likely to be infected with HIV. Seven million cases of HIV could be prevented in a decade if all children attended primary school. Not only are educated girls better able to protect their own health but they are also able to make informed choices that can protect the health of their family and earn a greater income, giving them more bargaining power within the home:
The Global Campaign for Education is asking people to JOIN UP and be part of the world's longest chain for education. By joining the chain you will send a message to the world leaders to spend more on education - www.campaignforeducation.org/joinup 8th March Click to view Past
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