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JUNE 2007
Thirty one years ago thousands of children in South Africa took their education into their own hands. On the 16th June 1976 children protested against their undemocratic education, and disempowerment in the school place, being forced to learn all subjects in Afrikaans. The consequences of the march were dire – with the undemocratic state and brutal reaction resulting in over 1000 students being killed.
On the 16th June 2007 we remember children across Africa – their rights, their education and look at the future through their eyes. We’ve come a long way since 1976 – with changes to democratic governments and millions more children entering the school gates across the continent. The numbers of children being left out of school has dropped dramatically. But we’re still far from equal education, and quality learning for every child. Whist some children are sitting in classes with more than 100 students, others girls are being forced into marriage or sex work, and boys manipulated into work as soldiers where the education they receive is learning how to use a gun.
In the last month we’ve witnessed African Finance Ministers meet and give little time to their plans for education, and the richest countries put words but no new money towards education.
On this day of all days we should remember – children come first. It is vital that all children receive a good, quality and fair education immediately – to escape poverty and inequality and to give them the start for a future of their choice.
Gorgui Sow
(Board Member of GCE and Coordinator of the Africa Network Campaign on Education for All)
CONTENTS
| POLICY NEWS |
- Response to the G8
- African Finance Ministers
- Latest FTI Meetings
- USA’s Aid to Education
- Australia’s Aid to Education
- Trafficking in Persons Report
- IMF & Education
| CAMPAIGN NEWS |
| GCE NEWS |
| POLICY NEWS |
Warm words, little action from G8 |
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) issued a guarded welcome to the constructive wording on education offered up in this year's G8 communiqué but is dismayed that yet again these promises aren't backed by enough real and specific funding commitments.
Whilst the text of 'Growth and Responsibility in Africa' is a broadly positive reiteration of rich countries' responsibility to support Education For All (EFA) – especially the affirmation of the Dakar pledge that 'no country seriously committed to 'Education for All' will be thwarted in their achievement of this goal by lack of resources', there was disappointment over the lack of real financial commitments. Whilst the UN estimate the EFA finance gap to be $6 billion – the G8 only committed to meet the FTI shortfall of $500 million this year. "We welcome the words on education that you've produced. But close to 1 billion people still can't read what you've written. Only when you've put your words into action and pledge the money you know is needed will this change" David Archer (GCE Board Member & ActionAid International) View GCE’s verdict response here |
African Finance Ministers Meeting (30-31st May) |
One year after the Africa finance and education ministers in Abuja and discussed education plans, sadly this year's agenda was led by energy. The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) together with African Network Campaign on Education for All (ANCEFA) and Ghana's National Education Campaign Coalition ( GNECC) took on the challenge to keep a focus on education – lobbying national ministers and conference directors. During the meeting, the Head of German Cooperation (GTZ) promised that Germany live up to its commitments, and the IMF reported it is reviewing its policy on public wage ceilings. Ghana's Minister of Finance, Mr. Baah-Wiredu summed up the global progress since the Abuja meeting last year and called on donors to commit resources and African ministers to commit to costed 10 year plans. Only Ghana's Minister of Education, Mr. Papa Owusu-Ankomah, had time to report back on their plan. A lively discussion followed with Liberia, Ethiopia , the Gambia, Rwanda, Chad and the Vice President of the World Bank on education, stating the challenge to be the limited and unpredictable resources available for EFA. The Civil Society's push for education was felt. ANCEFA's Elijah Agnew Muhati and GNECC's Mr Emmanuel Kuyole met Mr Baah–Wiredu who complimenting the work on the Donor school report and asked for African Report Cards – which we hope to provide Mr Baah-Wiredu before too long. |
FTI Meetings, Bonn 22nd-25th May |
As G8 co-chairs of FTI, Germany’s BMZ hosted the latest get-together of FTI stakeholders. GCE was represented by Lucia Fry, Kailash Satyarthi and David Archer.
For the first time southern governments (Ghana, Guyana and Mozambique) were welcomed onto the steering committee. GCE looks forward to the next September in Washington when they will be joined by other civil society and Ethiopia government representatives. Points to note from the meeting include:
|
USA Announce $525mill to education |
Just ahead of the G8 Summit, US President George Bush made a modest announcement of extra aid to basic education - calling on Congress to fund $525 million over the next five years. Increases are long overdue; US performance has left them sitting near the bottom of GCE's School Report in recent years. Although welcome, this diffident effort is way below what is needed to improve their class position. In fact, the US must increase aid by $2.5 billion per annum to pay their fair share of the money needed for EFA and achieve an 'A' grade in the GCE School Report. |
Australia Announces $40mill to FTI |
On the 31st May, AusAID’s new report ‘Better Education’ announced triple funding to all levels of education. Aid is to increase to $300 million by 2010. The Australia government estimates it could pay for 10 million more children through school as well as improve the quality of education for another 50 million. $40 million is to be put into the Fast Track Initiative. The money will be spent on quality education in the Asia Pacific where there are currently 10 million boys and 16 million girls out of school. Read Australia Make Poverty History press release here. |
New Trafficking in Persons Report - GCE President Kailash Satyarthi wins Hero Award |
The Trafficking in Persons Report was released in Washington DC on the 12th June. The report highlights the lives of people who are coerced into bonded labour, bought and sold into prostitution, or unlawfully exploited into servitude, child soldiers, and agriculture or factory workers. Every year 800,000 people who are trafficked across international borders – most are female, half are children. Download the report here. The GCE President is among those to receive the 2007 state Department’s Heroes Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery. Since starting his activism work in 1980 Kailash Satyarthi has freed more than 75,000 bonded and child labourers. Read the news piece here. |
IMF & Education  |
Over the past few decades, the International Monetary Fund’s policies have had a massive impact on the resources available for education – limiting what countries spend either directly - limiting teachers’ wages or by imposing tight limits on overall spending or setting inflation targets that make increasing the education spend impossible. ActionAid has produced reports that illustrate the impact of these policies on education, the latest is titled, ‘Confronting the Contradictions: the IMF, Wage Bill Caps and the Case for Teachers’. Download the report here The IMF has responded to this latest report the front page of their website claiming a move away from explicit wage bill ceilings. The IMF needs to go further and join the education constituency in discussions – at national and international levels – to show that it is serious about supporting investment in education. To find out more or to get involved in the IMF lobby work please contact David Archer on David.Archer@actionaid.org. |
| CAMPAIGN NEWS |
“Merkel” receives the world & cut-outs   |
After Global Action Week, ahead of the G8 children continued to JOIN UP for Education Rights in Germany. In a culmination of all the JOIN UP events around the world over 100 children stood in line and held hands outside Berlin’s famous Brandenburg Gates. Cut-out chains, made by children from all over the world, were sent to Germany, where children joined together and handed them over to a puppet ‘Angela Merkel’. Many of the paper cut-out chains addressed Angela Merkel herself asking her to keep her promises on education. A giant inflatable globe from the Netherlands also moved its way along the chain, through the famous gates, in a symbolic show that children can ‘move the world’. The colourful event was well covered in the media and was fun for everyone involved. It gave attention to the messages from around the world and presented loud and clear children’s demands of a better education for all. Thanks to all of you who send in your cut-outs and helped make the event happen. View more photos of the event here. |
Global Action Week 2007 and 2008 |
Thanks to everyone involved in this year’s Global Action Week. We know that millions were involved, but we’re still counting. Please send us an update of how many people were involved in your country – we’re still waiting for many updates. Please send this to muleya@campaignforeducation.org Also thanks for sending back the GAW evaluations to Muleya, these included invaluable feedback for making the next GAW a bigger and better success. Planning sessions for next year’s GAW have already started and so there will be a finalised theme and activity within the next couple of months. Due to popular request planning has started earlier so that coalitions have more time to prepare. |
Gordon Brown goes Back to School |
On the 1st June, UK’s soon to be Prime Minister returned to his old school in Scotland and met pupils who had JOINED UP with students in Malawi as part of the Global Campaign for Education. Two of the friends they made in Malawi were also there to greet Mr Brown.
When the children asked what he would do win his first 100 days in office Gordon Brown said: "Education for every child is my priority…We are going to ensure that every country delivers on their commitment to get every child an education." |
| GCE NEWS |
GCE World Assembly |
Member organizations will now be receiving invitations in the mail and on email for GCE’s World Assembly, 21st – 24th January 2008 in Brazil. The theme is ”Education at the Crossroads: Time for Action”. The first deadline to register for the assembly is 30th July – more details are available on the GCE website. Please send any queries to Yunus@campaignforeducation.org. |
Mid-Term Review Consultant (July – October 2007) |
GCE’s mid-term review contract is out to tender. Consultants with the relevant experience in research and/or evaluation in advocacy, campaigns and EFA should apply to Owain@campaignforeducation.org by the 24th June. Download the terms of reference and information for applicants here. |
Farewell Marina Navarro! |
With a heavy heart GCE bids farewell Marina, the GCE coordinator in Spain, who has seen the Spanish coalition grow from strength to strength, just recently topping the numbers from any one country taking the online action. GCE thanks Marina for everything she’s done for EFA and wishes her the best in her new role coordinating the Millennium Campaign in Spain. Visit GCE Spain’s website |
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, Cameroon: Cameroon EFA Network, Canada: Canadian GCE Alliance, El Salvador: CIAZO, France: Solidarite-Laique, Gabon: SENA, Gambia: GEFA, Germany: Oxfam, Ghana: GNECC, India: NCE, Indonesia: E-Net for Justice, Ireland: Irish GCE Coalition, Japan: JNNE, Kenya: Elimu Yetu Coalition, Lesotho: LEFA, Liberia: ALPO, Malawi: CSCQBE, Mali: ASSAFE, Mozambique: MEPT, Nigeria: CSACEFA, Pakistan: EFA Network, Philippines: E-Net, Sierra Leone: EFA Network, South Africa: GCE-SA, Spain: Spanish GCE Coalition, Sweden: Swedish EFA Forum, Tanzania: TEN/MET, Togo: CNT/CME, Uganda: FENU, UK: GCE-UK, Zambia: ZANEC
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