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JULY 2007
Quality Education and exclusion are two of the biggest problems in the world. I'm glad to announce that afterwards a consultation the dates and theme for next year's Global Action Week have been set. Due to popular demand the Global Campaign for Education is demanding: Quality Education to End Exclusion, and the Action Week dates are set for 21st – 29th April 2008.
Announcing the up and coming theme seems particularly timely giving the recent reminder that the world is off the mark for meeting the Millennium Development Goals, on the mid-point on the 7th July '07. The world has however shown willing. Below you'll read one example about Sierra Leone's commitment to meet the education goals. Civil society advocacy on education is also stronger than ever. An amazing number of people have JOINED UP this year for education, including half a million online.
I look forward to campaigning with you more in the future and meeting many of you and discussing more at the next World Assembly in Brazil next year.
Until then keep up the good work and keep JOINING UP for education. And let your friends know how to join the on-line chain: http://joinup.campaignforeducation.org
Nelida Cespedes
(GCE Board Member)
PS – the Global Campaign for Education secretariat values your feedback and input please send comments and suggestions to the e-news editor alex@campaignforeducation.org.
CONTENTS
| POLICY NEWS |
- Half way to MDGs
- Compulsory Girls Education in Sierra Leone
- FTI Steering Group
- $9 million to literacy in India
| CAMPAIGN NEWS |
- GAW 2008 Announced
- Half a million have JOINED UP online
- CSACEFA’s demands in Nigeria
- Funding national coalitions after CEF
- Education Rights: A guide for practitioners
- EFA resource pack: GCE Ireland
- Global School Partnerships
- Teachers TV: Education in Africa
- Project Red Stripe
| GCE NEWS |
| POLICY NEWS |
Half way to deadline, far from target |
7th July - Seven and a half years since the Millennium Development Goals were set, and seven and a half years until the target date was not a day of celebration. Anti-poverty campaigners united in the Global Call to Action against Poverty’s campaigning activities in more than 40 countries and demanded faster progress.
The gender parity in school goals was already missed two years ago, and progress in meeting the Basic Education for all by 2015 goal is not doing much better. Whilst 21 million more children are now benefiting from an education since 2000, 80 million children are still without, and at current rates of progress 67 countries will miss the target – most of them in Africa. Until all children and adults get the quality education that is their right the Global Campaign for Education will keep reminding the world of their promises and the urgent steps that need to be taken. Read the UN MDGs midpoint review document here |
Compulsory Girls Schooling in Sierra Leone |
11th July – Sierra Leone’s President Kabbah showed commitment to education when launching his new plan and announcing, compulsory schooling for girls when school opens in September. The plan will run until 2015 and aims to ensure all children receive an education.
“Whilst it is true that many countries, including Sierra Leone, may not meet all of the MDGs, we are certain that by 2015 children everywhere in Sierra Leone, bill be able to achieve the MDG no. 2 – primary education for all” Kabbah said. Read full article here |
Additions to the Education Fast-Track Initiative (FTI) Steering Group |
Having lobbied for more civil society representatives on the FTI committee, GCE is pleased to announce the election or two new posts on the expanded FTI Steering Committee. Coalitions from the USA and Niger have been chosen by the GCE constituency to represent coalitions from OECD countries and low-income countries. Gene Sperling and Adbou Lokoko will take up their seats with immediate effect, joining government representatives from Mozambique, Ethiopia, Ghana and Guyana as new Steering Committee members. The next face-to-face meeting of the FTI Steering Committee will be 18th September in Washington DC, preceded by an induction session for new members and followed by a meeting of the Catalytic Fund Strategy Committee. GCE looks forward to working with the new members to ensure that FTI is grounded in real experience and responds to country-level demand. Kailash Satyarthi is the official GCE representative on the Steering Committee. |
The Hewlett and Gates Foundations award $9m to Pratham’s Read India Campaign
 |
5th July - The Hewlett and Gates Foundations have announced their first joint education grant of $9 million to the Pratham Read India Campaign. It’s estimated that 50% of children in India do not have the minimum standard of reading - the award is hoped to benefit children aged 6-14 read and learn. Read the full press release here |
| CAMPAIGN NEWS |
Global Action Week 2008 |
Please note the dates for next year’s Global Action Week have been set:
21st – 27th April 2008 Following planning group meetings and the board meeting next years’ theme has been confirmed as: Quality Education to End Exclusion As an activity politicians and other community leaders will be going back to school and receiving lessons from the children in the importance of education. Journalists will also be encouraged to go back to school. By the end of August the planning pack will be available, but in the meantime we’re sharing the theme and dates to help coalitions start planning. |
| Nearly Half a Million have JOINED UP online! |
An amazing 483,813 people have now joined the on-line chain for education! If you or your friends haven’t already Joined Up and demanded Education Rights now – go on join the world’s longest chain for education: |
Call for credible & knowledgeable Ministers of Education in Nigeria |
9th July – the Civil society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) in Nigeria called upon the President, Yar’Adua, to ensure the future of the education ministry is led by competent, experienced, and selfless leader. And asks for an end to the problems of bureaucracy, corruption and inefficiency that has caused problems in the past. They also call for a massive increase in public spending on education at all levels of government. Find out more about the Nigeria coalition, CSACEFA here. |
Report: Funding change (CEF) |
Funding Change: Sustaining civil society advocacy in education Civil society advocacy strives to ensure that education promises are fulfilled at national levels. However the work receives limited and unpredictable funding, to date the Commonwealth Education Fund (CEF) has been the only international fund focused on supporting education advocacy. This report identifies work to sustain the strength of this advocacy work after the CEF comes to an end in 2008. The report argues against a focused dialogue between Ministries of Education and consortiums of donors, by strengthening national civil society. In order to do this significant national investment is required to develop the capacity of civil society organisations to engage in policy dialogue, to understand national education budgets and to present a coherent voice. It recommends the creation of national Civil Society Education Funds (CSEFs), registered in each country, with help from international donors. Read the full report and findings here |
Report: Education Rights (GCE & ActionAid) |
A Guide for Practitioners and Activists This resource guides people working at local and national levels around the world in taking on a rights-based approach to education (rather than a service delivery/needs-based approach). It draws on practical experiences from over 20 countries and benefited from the advice of the late Katarina Tomasevski (former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education), to whom the pack is dedicated. Download this resource here |
Report: Education for All (GCE Ireland) |
Education for All – Schools Resource This teachers and school resource was produced to be used in schools in Ireland, but has been useful for teacher unions in many countries. This resource enables teachers and students to explore the issue of education and its importance in the fight against poverty. It also provides opportunities for students to play an active role in Global Action Week. Download the schools resource pack here |
Report: School Partnerships (VSO) |
Involving Global School Partnerships in the Global Campaign for Education This resource is aimed at schools and offers guidance and ideas to encourage global school partnerships, and how to introduce them to campaign for education. The resource is particularly useful for schools in the UK that are using the lesson plans available on www.sendmyfriend.org/teachers. Download this resource here |
Teachers TV & Education in Africa |
Teachers TV are running a season of programmes on Education in Africa. Programmes include some inspirational stories of marginalized people accessing education, and an interview with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi on meeting the Education for All goals. All the programmes can be viewed free or downloaded from their website here |
Global Skills Exchange: Project Red Stripe |
Project Red Stripe, which is part of The Economist Group, has developed a new web service to provide a global skills exchange on development issues, with a focus on education projects. In preliminary stages they’re looking for development partners, to take part in the initiative, to given input to the project and to benefit from a body of campaign and advocacy staff’s assistance. Find out more by emailing tom@projectredstripe.com or visiting the blog |
| GCE NEWS |
| GCE Board Met in Lome |
On the 27th and 28th June, the GCE Board met in Togo’s capital city. As the board members gathered from across the world they received a warm local welcome and media interest. The meeting was a success in discussing the campaign’s future direction, confirming arrangements for the world assembly and developing plans for the 2008 Global Action Week. |
2007 Big Book & Big Film |
The Global Campaign for Education is producing the 2007 Big Book and a Big Film that sum up some of the highlights of everything that’s happened across the globe during Global Action Week and throughout the year. We are fast approaching the production stage – so to get details and footage of your event included – please urgently email photos, stories and quotes to muleya@campaignforeducation.org. If you have any film footage please email alex@campaignforeducation.org to arrange delivery. Please remember to feed this information back to us by the end of July. |
| Budget Lobby Pilot Project |
The Global Campaign for Education is just starting a pilot project in seven countries that targets national politicians on their responsibility to deliver the Education for All. The campaign aims to influence politicians to put education on their election manifestos during their election and at the annual national budget processes. The first workshops are taking place in Kenya, Malawi in the next couple of weeks. |
GCE World Assembly |
Education at the Crossroads: Time for Action is the timely theme of the World Assembly 22nd – 24th January 2008 in Sao Paulo. Please note that the first deadline for applications is 30th July 2007. If you are a GCE member and have not yet received your invite please let us know. Please send applications and queries to yunus@campaignforeducation.org. |
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) is a movement to end the worldwide crisis in education. GCE’s mission is to make sure that governments act now to deliver the right of every girl, boy, woman and man to a free, quality education. Thousands of development charities, trade unions and child rights groups make up the national coalitions that jointly campaign for the right to education. Together we lobby governments, raise public awareness and put joint pressure on international institutions to keep their promises for Education for All.
Regional & International Organisations: ActionAid International, ANCEFA, ASPBAE, CAMFED, CARE, CEAAL, Education International, FAPE, FAWE, Fe y Alegria, Global March Against Child Labour, Ibis, Inclusion International, Latin America GCE Coalition, NetAid, OEB/CEDEAO, Oxfam International, Plan International, Public Services International, REPEM, Save the Children Alliance, SightSavers International, VSO, World Alliance of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Vision International
National Civil Society Coalitions: Bangladesh :CAMPE, Brazil:CDE, Burkina Faso:CCEB, Cambodia:NGO Education Partnership, Cameroon:EFA Network, Canada:GCE Alliance, El Salvador:CIAZO, France:Solidarite-Laique, Gabon:SENA, Gambia:GEFA, Germany:GCE, Ghana:GNECC, India:NCE, Indonesia:E-Net for Justice, Ireland:GCE Coalition, Japan:JNNE, Kenya:Elimu Yetu Coalition, Lesotho:LEFA, Liberia: ALPO, Malawi:CSCQBE, Mali:ASSAFE, Mozambique:MEPT, Netherlands:GCE, Nigeria:CSACEFA, Pakistan:EFA Network, Philippines:E-Net, Sierra Leone:EFA Network, South Africa:GCE-SA, Spain:GCE Coalition, Sweden:EFA Forum, Tanzania:TEN/MET, Togo:CNT/CME, Uganda:FENU, UK:GCE-UK, Zambia:ZANEC
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