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OCTOBER 2007
The 5th October marked World Teachers' Day – an important day in education campaigner calendars and a reminder of the essential role that teachers play within society.
Education for All is impossible, without teachers, with decent working conditions. But in order to meet the Education for All goals the world needs an additional 18 million teachers – and millions more are struggling to live on low wages and teach in poor conditions.
As member of GCE, Education International (an International Federation of Teacher Unions – that represents 30 million teachers around the world) led events around another World Teachers Day and got the message out internationally that – better working conditions for teachers' means better learning conditions for learners. Together we demanded living wages, equal pay and equal rights for women, initial and on-going profession development and involvement in policy makers for all teachers. Find out more about World Teachers Day here
As many of you know teaching can be a very rewarding profession, and is essential to a whole nation's development. However, worldwide teachers are confronted with inadequate working conditions. Teachers are invited to tell us about their working conditions and how it affects their ability to deliver quality education - if you're a teacher and have something to say please do so here
Together we'll continue to campaign for quality teachers for everyone to have a quality education. I hope you enjoy the e-news letter, and reading more about what's happening on the international education campaigning scene this month.
Regards,
Elie Jouen
(GCE Chair and EI Deputy General Secretary)
CONTENTS
| POLICY NEWS |
- Clinton Global Initiative focuses on education
- Civil Society inputs into FTI Steering Committee
- New Report: Education's Missing Millions
- New Report: Education for Some More than Others
| CAMPAIGN NEWS |
- Stand Up Against Poverty 16-17 th October
- Education Watch launched in Asia
- Africa 's First Ladies Commit to Literacy
- Oxfam Health & Education for All Call to Action
- New Report: Research Matters!
| GCE NEWS |
| POLICY NEWS |
Clinton Global Initiative focuses on Education |
Education was on the agenda for the first time at this year's Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) - hosted in late September by former US President Bill Clinton. CGI brings together governments, civil society organisations and private sector companies and trusts for joint problem-solving of global issues. Partners are encouraged to make mutual commitments to address challenges in education, health, poverty alleviation and climate change. Speakers on education came from sources as diverse as Dr. Codou Diaw, Director of FAWE (Forum of African Women Educationalists), Gary Knell, CEO of Sesame St, the Kenyan Minister of Education George Saitoti, and Valentino Deng (former refugee and collaborator on the Dave Eggers novel 'What is the what'). Visit the CGI website here
"There is no doubt that by expanding and improving access to education we will have a profound opportunity to positively impact some of the world's must vulnerable children," said the former President. |
Civil Society inputs into FTI Steering Committee  |
September saw the first meeting of the expanded FTI Steering Committee - with new Civil Society members Gene Sperling (GCE USA) and Abdou Lokoko (ROSEN - Niger) joining for the first time, as well as four representatives from developing countries. This follows years of lobbying by GCE for a more inclusive governance structure for FTI. At an induction day for new members, M. Lokoko impressed the Co-Chairs with his account of how ROSEN had helped to hold the Niger government accountable in a scandal over mismanaged funds. But, he also stated clearly that now the situation was resolved and there was no excuse for further delay in disbursing funds to assist Niger's desperately needy schools and learners. Gene Sperling joined GCE President, Kailash Satyarthi and GCE Policy Advisor, Lucia Fry in calling for speedier action to secure additional funds to meet the overall global external financing requirement of at least $9 billion per annum. |
New Report: Education's Missing Millions  |
Including disabled children in education through EFA FTI process and national sector plans (World Vision) It has been estimated that one third of the children still out of school are disabled children, and that fewer than 10 per cent of disabled children in Africa attend school. This research report focuses on how the Education for All Fast Track Initiative (FTI) Partnership is tackling the challenges of disability and inclusion in education. The report concludes that at present the FTI is not being responsive enough to disability, but it has the capacity to catalyse increasing concern with the inclusion of disabled children into effective policies, planning, implementation and monitoring at country level. The FTI could also facilitate information and practice exchange and help to fill knowledge gaps. Download report in English here |
New Report: Europe - Education for Some More than Others |
The education systems in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States comprising the now-independent former Soviet republics are excluding more than 14 million children each year in a region formerly known for its high-quality education, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The report found that public expenditure on education reinforced rather than counteracted social, ethnic and economic inequalities in access to and completion of basic education. Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Tajikistan, countries with low economic indicators, had the lowest attendance rates, less than 50 per cent for upper high school, and in some instances less than 30 per cent for pre-school. The report calls for governments to substantially increase spending on education to at least 6 per cent of their gross domestic product as against a regional average of 3 to 4 per cent, and move from a distribution of public expenditure that reinforces inequality to one that counteracts inequality. Download the report here |
| CAMPAIGN NEWS |
| October 16th - 17th STAND UP and SPEAK OUT against Poverty and Inequality  |
STAND UP and SPEAK OUT is a worldwide call to take action against poverty and inequality and for achieving and exceeding the Millennium Development Goals. Between 9pm GMT on the 16th and 9pm GMT on 17th October, people will literally and symbolically STAND UP and SPEAK OUT demanding their governments keep their promises to end extreme poverty. Last year, more than 23 million people took part and set a new Guinness World Record. This year, GCAP and the UN Millennium Campaign are calling everyone to breaking this chain and get the message across louder. Every person counts! Find out more and get involved by visiting www.standagainstpoverty.org |
Education Watch – Asia |
The launch of Education Watch has begun across Asia & Pacific. Philippines and Indonesia had their launches on 25th September 25, followed by Cambodia on the 6th October, other countries will launch their national campaigns over the next couple of months. Education Watch is an independent, alternative, citizen-based assessment of the status of basic education, designed to strengthen local and community-based capacities for claim-making on education, and intended to bolster national education coalitions' capacities to sharply define, pursue and achieve their policy change objectives, armed by credible alternative, grassroots-based data and information. The theme collectively identified by the participating coalitions is "Tracking the education deficit". Read more about Education Watch in Asia on the ASPBAE website here www.aspbae.org |
Africa's First Ladies Commit to Literacy  |
The First Ladies of Africa made a firm commitment to advocate for literacy at the closing ceremony of the UNESCO Regional Conference on Literacy in Bamako in a declaration read by the First Lady of Mali Madame TOURE Lobbo TRAORE on their behalf. Campaigning by GCE members and allies succeeded in drawing attention to the lack of domestic financing for literacy. The demand for 3% of the education budget to literacy featured in the Conference Communiqué.
ANCEFA members and the GCE were also very vocal at the Regional EFA forum organised by UNESCO- BREDA, voicing strong opposition to the Dakar plus 7 Report written by the consultancy group Pole-Dakar. ANCEFA members felt the report completely undermined the principle of the Right to an Education. The Executive Director of BREDA Lalla Aicha Ben-Barka closed the forum by accepting the criticisms raised by various quarters regarding the lack of transparency and the opinions expressed in the report. |
Oxfam Health & Education for All Call to Action |
13th Sept: Oxfam launched a global call for "Health and Education For All" in New Delhi, calling for investment for six million more teachers, nurses and doctors around the world. Oxfam is urging developing country governments to allocate an increased proportion of their annual budgets into providing these essential services, and demanding that rich countries support poorer nations with an increased and long-term aid commitment targeting the health and education sectors.
Sign the petition here |
New Report: Research Matters! |
This new Education International publication emphasizes the role of research in shaping policy and provides guidelines on how teachers' unions can take a serious approach to it. Research plays a vital role in supporting ideas and opinions to inform public policy. It is no longer the domain of academics alone. Released at the EI Congress in July, 'Research Matters: Research as a Union Tool to Improve Educational Policy' advises on how to initiate and use research to promote unions' political goals. It also gives concrete examples of unions – in South Africa, India , Sweden, Argentina and Tanzania – who have seen their research leave a significant imprint on policy in these countries. Download the report here |
| GCE NEWS |
| BACK TO SCHOOL Action Week 2008 Planning Pack Ready  |
Planning for Action Week 2008 ''Back to School" is already underway. During the Action Week 21st – 27th April, campaigners are focusing in on the theme for the week is Quality Education for All to End Exclusion. They will united in carrying out the World's Biggest Lesson, in-which ministers, journalists and decision makers will be learning alongside children, the importance of Education for All, and how it can be realised. The Action Week planning pack has been circulated to coalitions and is available here now available in English, French, Spanish & Portugese |
| GCE World Assembly |
The Global Campaign for Education's World Assembly is taking place in 22nd – 24th January 2008, in Sao Paulo. Thanks to everyone who's sent in their application forms. If you're a member don't forget to get your registration form in, and ensure your dues are paid in order to be eligible to receive support with the travel and accommodation for one delegate. Please contact Yunus@campaignforeducation.org for any queries about the World Assembly. Invites to the regional pre-meetings will be sent out by the regional coalitions: Europe & North America: 26th – 27 th November (Oslo) Latin America Meeting: 27th – 29th November (Buenos Aires) Asia Meeting: 3-5th December (Bangkok) Africa: 10 th – 11th December (Dakar) |
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE)is a movement to end the worldwide crisis in education. Thousands of development charities, trade unions and child rights groups make up the national coalitions in over 100 countries. Together we campaign and lobby governments to make sure they act now to deliver the right of every girl, boy, woman and man to a free, quality education.
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: Albania: ACCE, Armenia: ACRPC; Bangladesh : CAMPE, Bolivia: FEB, Brazil: CDE, Burkina Faso: CCEB, Cambodia: NGO Education Partnership, Cameroon: EFA Network, Canada: GCE Alliance, Chile: FECPT, El Salvador: CIAZO, France: Solidarite-Laique, Gabon: SENA, Gambia: GEFA, Germany: GCE, Ghana: GNECC, Guatemala: CETT, India: NCE, Indonesia: E-Net for Justice, Ireland: GCE Coalition, Japan: JNNE, Kenya: Elimu Yetu Coalition, Lesotho: LEFA, Liberia: ALPO, Malawi: CSCQBE, Mauritius: DCI, Mozambique: MEPT, Nicaragua: Foro Net, Niger: ROSEN, Nigeria: CSACEFA, Norway: Union of Education, Pakistan: PCE, Peru: CME, Philippines: E-Net, Romania: GCE, Sierra Leone: EFA Network, Solomon Islands: COESI, South Africa: GCE-SA, Spain: GCE Coalition, Sweden: EFA Forum, Tanzania: TEN/MET, The Netherlands: GCE, Togo: CNT/CME, Uganda: FENU, UK:GCE-UK, Vietnam: GCE, Zambia:ZANEC, Zimbabwe: Teachers Association
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