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SEPTEMBER 2007
On September 8th another International Literacy Day will be celebrated around the world. After decades of being disregarded and under-funded, there’s now some real cause for celebration, as adult literacy is climbing up the agenda. Although most governments still spend less than 1% of their education budget on adult literacy there is growing momentum behind the demand for at least 3%.
This demand is one of the twelve “International Benchmarks on Adult Literacy” developed in 2005 by the Global Campaign for Education. Based on the largest ever survey of good quality literacy programmes, the publication “Writing the Wrongs” (English | French | Spanish) has helped to galvanise new action on literacy.
In February this year 60 participants from 24 countries convened in Nigeria to review the GCE benchmarks, including Ministers of Education, Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Managers of National Literacy Programmes, United Nations officials, donors and leading civil society organisations. These delegates issued a call for action, demanding:
- New literacy surveys to reveal the real scale of the literacy challenge;
- New national dossiers to show evidence on the benefits of literacy;
- New national dialogue on literacy policies and practices using the International benchmarks, and
- The inclusion of adult literacy in education sector plans, especially those submitted to the Fast Track Initiative.
There has already been dramatic progress on this. The FTI has now endorsed Benin’s education sector plan, which includes adult literacy. It is now clear that donors can and will support adult literacy if national governments prioritise it.
The challenge now is to make sure national governments place adult literacy higher on their agenda. This is a goal that GCE members have been pushing for in a series of high-level regional meetings organised by the United Nations Literacy Decade. Recent meetings took place in Doha and Beijing, next week delegates from across Africa will meet in Bamako.
In Bamako, delegates will be met by literacy activists who are travelling in a caravan through Guinea, Senegal and Mali to demand new spending on adult literacy. Organised by Pamoja (the Africa REFLECT Network) and supported by ANCEFA is a perfect example of popular mobilisation for literacy that can make a real difference.
We hope that you join the celebrations of International Literacy Day and add your voice to the growing movement demanding more investment in adult literacy.
David Archer
(GCE Board member)
| POLICY NEWS |
- Global Partnerships need financing
- Uganda: Adults get education
- Iraq: predicted drop in education
- Burkina Faso: distribution of books
- Somalia: Children take care of their education
- Gaza: Primary Education for All
- ID21 Report: Teachers
- Report: Education in Emergencies
| CAMPAIGN NEWS |
- Stand Up and Speak Out
- Pan-African Teacher Awards
- Education Advocacy Report
- Valuing Teachers in Gambia Report
- Support girls at the Batonga Foundation
| GCE NEWS |
| POLICY NEWS |
Global Initiatives need Global Financing |
The Global Campaign for Education praised the new Global Health Partnership that was launched on the 5th September. The new plan has the potential to make huge progress towards ending the global health crisis. But only if it's backed by international political will and financing from the richest countries. The new partnership should learn from the Education for All – Fast Track Initiative (EFA-FTI) on which it was modeled. Of the seven countries the new health partnership promises to help, four (Mozambique, Kenya, Cambodia and Ethiopia) are still waiting for FTI money. Combined they have a financing gap of US$1.5 billion from now until 2010. Three months after the G8 in Germany, it is Chancellor Merkel's responsibility to carry out the promises contained in the G8 communiqué – on making progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, which include financing health and education. Yet the G8 nations continue fall financially short of their lofty pledges. Without rich countries putting real money into their partnerships – the reality is that families in poor countries are now being dangled promises of quality health and education provision – but in reality are no better off. |
1.2 million adults to get free education in Uganda |
3rd Sept: More than 1.2 million adults have benefited from Uganda’s Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) programmes which are conducted by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. FAL offers free education to people older than 15; 76% of the learners are women. 28,400 instructors have been trained, and been provided with training manuals and some with bicycles. Throughout the planning stages of FAL the Uganda Education Coalition – FENU and civil society in the country have played an important role in informing the Ministry on planning, training, curriculum design, material production and mobilization of adult learners. They are now jointly celebrating international literacy day and the recent progress that has been made in Uganda Read the New Vision article here |
IRAQ: Lower school attendance expected in coming year |
28th Aug - The Iraqi Ministry of Education has warned of the possible low attendance of pupils at schools in the coming year, saying it expects at least a 15 percent drop compared to previous years. Parents have blamed the government for the poor protection of their children and many have opted to keep them at home. Read the full IRIN article here |
BURKINA FASO: School and Books Necessities NOT luxuries |
29th Aug: The Burkina Faso government will distribute millions of free books to primary school students and launch a pilot project to give no-fee schooling in a push to curb the number of people in the country growing up without even basic education. Read the full IRIN article here |
SOMALIA: Skipping School to Attend School – Children take chare of their education. |
27th Aug: It is 10.30am on a sunny Thursday morning in the self-declared republic of Somaliland’s capital and 15-year-old Mohamed Yusuf is skipping school. Mohamed is not playing soccer or smoking cigarettes or shining shoes for a few extra shillings; instead he and a half-dozen of his classmates have trekked 5km through the dusty streets of Hargeisa to attend a session of Biyo Dhacay primary school’s Child-to-Child (CTC) club. In other words, Mohamed and his friends are skipping school to attend school. Read the full IRIN article here |
GAZA STRIP: Primary education free for all |
1st Sept: The deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has announced that education for all primary school children in the Gaza Strip will be free. And that new teachers will be given US$500. Haniyeh said he is determined to keep the education system away from political conflicts and therefore has agreed to the one day weekend for schools and education providers, proposed by President Mahmoud Abbas' government. Muhammad Siyam, the head of the Teachers Union, called upon Haniyeh's government to make some education reforms and increase teachers' salaries to that of other state employees. View full article in the journal of Turkish Weekly here |
NEW REPORT: ID21 Research report on teachers |
Eighteen million primary school teachers are needed over the next decade to meet Universal Primary Education (UPE) goals. The research document summarises recent research that addresses some of the issues of teachers and achieving EFA. Including: Effective professional development, Teacher Absenteeism, Gender equality and HIV and AIDS, Political Violence and Policy Initiatives. Download the report in English here (The document will soon also be available in French.) |
NEW REPORT:Educating children in emergencies report |
This report written by Gerald Martone of the International Rescue committee, argues that providing educational services for children is a vital intervention during emergencies, chronic crises, and early phases of reconstruction. With relief organizations focusing on ‘lifesaving’ assistance such as providing food, shelter, and water, the emotional well-being, development and ‘quality of life’ of refugees and is de-prioritised. With the average length of refugee displacement being 17 years, the stark reality is generations of children are raised without access to education. Read the full report here |
| CAMPAIGN NEWS |
October 16th - 17th
STAND UP and SPEAK OUT against Poverty and Inequality |
Run by GCAP and the UN Millennium Campaign, 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. On October 16th and 17th 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, we want you to help break this record so the message rings even louder. Every person counts! Find out more and get involved by visiting www.standagainstpoverty.org |
Pan-African Prize for Entrepreneurial Teachers Launched |
Teach a Man to Fish is running a competition o recognise extraordinary teachers across Africa who transform limited resources into astonishing results. Entries will be assessed against four criteria of innovation, impact, leadership & creative use of limited resources, and must be received before the 15th October. Winners will be selected by a panel of international judges, and the top three awardees sponsored to travel to Paraguay to receive their prizes at the Financially Self-Sufficient Schools Conference taking place December 4-6 2007, with the most entrepreneurial teacher receiving $10,000. For more details visit the website www.teachamantofish.org.uk/competition |
REPORT: LINKS Education Advocacy Coalitions study tour |
In March this year VSO Education Programme Managers, Education coalitions and Teacher Union Representatives from Ethiopia, Nepal, Mozambique and Rwanda visited colleagues in Malawi and Zambia to learn from their experiences. Together they learnt how best to organise, coordinate and fund advocacy activities and overcome common challenges. Read the report here. |
REPORT: Valuing Teachers Gambia |
The Gambia is prioritising education through its most recent Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and Education Policy, which has been developed into a more detailed strategic plan. It is in this context that VSO The Gambia, with its partners the Education for All Campaign Network and The Gambia Teachers’ Union, has undertaken research into issues affecting teachers, specifically to find out from teachers what issues affect their motivation and morale. The focus on teachers is in recognition of the key role they play in the quest for quality education. Read the report here |
“Education for girls, is about the future of Africa”
Angélique Kidjo |
Angélique Kidjo's new organization, the Batonga Foundation is working to support girls’ education in Africa. In Benin, Batonga will support 229 girls to continue their education by attending secondary school. Angélique Kidjo is inviting you to support these young women by emailing your words and images of support to ungei@unicef.org. Your messages will be posted here on the UNGEI website and- most importantly- she will bring these messages to the girls in Benin in a few weeks. Found out more about UNGEI www.ungei.org or Batonga http://www.batongafoundation.org |
| GCE NEWS |
| GCE’s Mid-Term Review |
The deadline for feedback into GCE’s mid-term review is the 15th Sept. It’s been eight years since GCE was set up and we’d really like to hear from you. Please download and fill in the questionnaire here. |
|
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. |
| September Education Meetings |
This month sees a host of important gatherings that will be attended by GCE and its members. First up on 18th and 19th are the FTI Steering Committee and Catalytic Fund Strategy Committee at which new civil society members - Gene Sperling and Abdou Lokoko - will join Kailash Satyarthi who has held his seat for almost two years. This is followed by the International Advisory Panel to the EFA High Level Group, also attended by Kailash. The following week numerous GCE members as well as Secretariat staff will be attending the Clinton Global Initiative meeting where the Education Working Group will be launched for the first time. |
| GCE World Assembly |
Every three years all GCE members come together. The next meeting will take place 21st- 24th January 2008 in Sao Paulo. If you would like to find out more or you haven’t received an invite please get in touch with Yunus@campaignforeducation.org |
| Upcoming Events Visit our online calendar to view more dates.  |
10th – 12th Sept: UNESCO meeting on literacy in Africa (Bamako) 15th Sept: Deadline for feeding into GCE’s Mid-term Review 18th Sept: FTI Steering Committee 5th Oct: World Teachers Day 16th – 17th Oct: GCAP Stand Up Against Poverty 19th – 21st Oct: IMF & World Bank Annual Meetings (Washington) 14th – 16th Nov: EFA working group (Paris) 27th – 28th Nov: GCE Latin America pre-World Assembly Meeting (Buenos Aires) 29th – 30th Nov: UNESCO meeting on literacy in South, South-West and Central Asia (Delhi) 3rd – 5th Dec: GCE Asia pre-World Assembly Meeting (Bangkok) 5th Dec: EFA Global Monitoring Report Launch 10th – 11th Dec: GCE Africa pre-World Assembly Meeting (Dakar) 11th – 13th Dec: Education for All High Level Group (Dakar) 11th Dec: GCE Launch of 1st ever Global School Report 2008 21st – 24th Jan: GCE World Assembly in Sao Paulo 21st – 27th April: GCE’s Action Week Back to School (theme: Quality Education for all to End Exclusion) 13th – 14th May: UNESCO meeting on literacy in L. America and Caribbean (San Jose) Sept: UNESCO closing meetings on literacy (Baku, Azerbaijan). |
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: 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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