APRIL 2008
Dear All

It’s good to be writing to you at the beginning of Global Action Week. After months of planning, this is an exciting time of year for education campaigners all over the world. 60 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and half way to the Education for All goals deadline it’s unacceptable that millions of adults and children still have no education. The Global Action Week and the World’s Biggest Lesson is a crucial time for civil society to pressurise governments towards realising Education for All by 2015.

This newsletter focuses on the tremendous efforts that are going into the World’s Biggest Lesson this week. Thousands of officials will be sitting at a class desk this week, as they’re taught the same lesson by remarkable children and young people. We hope that we’ll not only break the world record for the biggest ever lesson, that it will also be the first lesson for many children, and that it'll be a important lesson to remember for many politicians.

Well done to everyone who’s worked so hard to pull off this record-breaking attempt, and for those not yet involved it’s not too late all you need to do is download the lesson from www.campaignforeducation.org/biggestlesson.. Let’s make this not only the World’s Biggest Lesson but also the world’s most important lesson.

Muleya Mwananyanda
Global Action Week Coordinator
CONTENTS

GCE NEWS
CAMPAIGN NEWS
EDUCATION NEWS
GCE NEWS
World’s Biggest Lesson Around the World















 In Afghanistan the World’s Biggest Lesson is taking place in Isteqlal High School in Kabul, with the President Hamid Karzai and Minister of Education expected to attend. In Albania the World’s Biggest Lesson will be followed with a special football match between students and MPs. Over a million people will have access to the World’s Biggest Lesson at the Buenos Aires Book Fair. The Ministry of Education in Armenia is taking part in the World’s Biggest Lesson. In Austria the Minister for Education and 330 schools are taking part in the World’s Biggest Lesson..In Bangladesh millions of people are taking part in the World’s Biggest Lesson. There are events across Brazil focusing on quality education. In Bulgaria the Mayor of the largest municipality, Kiril Yordanov is being interviewed by students. In Burkina Faso the Prime Minister M Zongo Tertus, and the Minister of Education are expected to attend the World’s Biggest Lesson and in Cambodia the King will be taught by children. In Cameroon politicians, including the Minister for Basic Education, are going back to school to take the World’s Biggest Lesson in their provincial schools. Schools have been preparing in Canada with a specially adapted school resource pack and a highlight World’s Biggest Lesson is taking place in Toronto. In Colombia local celebrities are taking part in the World’s Biggest Lesson in Quindio, Costa Atlantica, Antioquia and Cundiboyacense.

In Denmark close to 200,000 school students now have a special book called ‘Læseraketten’ that is written for Action Week, and the Minister of Education is ready to sit in class for the World’s Biggest Lesson. Schools in the Dominican Republic are writing letters to the National Congress on exclusion in Education. In Ecuador ‘Dialogues for Education’ raise awareness about quality education for all. Events are happening around Ethiopia including photo exhibitions and workshops. In France local politicians throughout France will be taking part in the World’s Biggest Lesson. In western Gambia popular Jaliba Kuyateh will perform to those taking the World’s Biggest Lesson I Arabic and English. The President of Georgia, Head of Parliament ad Ministers are expected to sit with children during the World’s Biggest Lesson. In Germany MPs will be taught the World’s Biggest Lesson by students outside Reichstag, the Parliament buildings. In Ghana the Vice President of Ghana Mr Alhji Aliu Mahama will take part in a forum on quality education. In Guatemala officials, students, parents and teachers are attending a display the lack of quality education for everyone.

In Honduras students are marching to the Presidential House whilst children in India are paying wake-up calls to Parliamentarians in 10 states, ahead of the World’s Biggest Lesson. In Indonesia Government officials including the Head of the District of Bacan are taking part in the World’s Biggest Lesson. In Ireland Government Ministers will be taught the World’s Biggest Lesson in Irish Aid’s Government Communications Centre. Students and officials across Japan are taking the World’s Biggest Lesson, including a special Civil G8, and Fast Track Initiative lessons. The Ministry of Education in Jordan will take the World’s Biggest Lesson along side schools and NGOs, whilst the lesson is being taught in a slum area of Nairobi in Kenya. Students and adult learners in Lebanon are holding a Grand Ceremony of the World’s Biggest Lesson. In Lesotho politicians are going to rural disadvantaged schools to take the World’s Biggest Lesson. In Macedonia school students are demonstrating their rights to education to politicians. In Malawi the Deputy Minister of Education Ms Olive Masanza is launching the World’s Biggest Lesson. Politicians and councillors in Mauritius are going to schools for the World’s Biggest Lesson. More than 450 schools are taking part in Mexico and the Minister of Education in Mozambique will be taught along side children in an event in Maputo. In the Netherlands a special presentation marathon, is going around the country.

In Nepal politicians are being taught the World’s Biggest Lesson in schools and politicians in Namibia are being asked what progress they’ve made on their promises for education for all. In Nigeria Executives and Members of the House of Representatives, Senate and Top Government officials are taking part in the World’s Biggest Lesson. Norway’s Prime Minister is expected to attend the World’s Biggest Lesson. Schools in 40 districts of Pakistan are taking part in the lesson, whilst thousands of children and officials are joining in the Palestinian Territories including one school with a satellite link up with a school in Oregon, USA for the lesson..The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea is doing on-air discussion on ‘Education to End Exclusion’, whilst over 300 schools, Ministers and Congressmen in Peru are taking part in the World's Biggest Lesson. In the Philippines the World’s Biggest Lesson will be a major activity in Quezon City. In Rwanda country-wide events are being held. In Senegal children and adults will tell their testimonies to politicians, whilst officials in Sierra Leone are going ‘Back to School’ to take part in the lesson. In the Solomon Islands politicians are going to some of the most marginalised schools to take the World’s Biggest Lesson. In South Africa disadvantaged schools around Cape Town will take part in the World’s Biggest Lesson. More than 16 city council and authority buildings in Spain are hosing the World’s Biggest Lesson. The Head of Sate and Minister of Education in Sri Lanka are being presented with messages from students.

In Sudan The World’s Biggest Lesson is taking place in Khartoum, white Nile, South and North Darfur and El Gadarif. Students in Sweden are teaching local and national politicians the lesson. In Taiwan officials are going back to school for the lesson. In Tanzania the Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training is expected to attend the lesson. The World’s Biggest Lesson in Togo will include a national concert and workshop events. Uganda’s parliament is being petitioned to pass a new Education Bill, whilst in the UK Douglas Alexander, the Secretary of State for International Development is being taught the World’s Biggest Lesson outside the parliamentary buildings in Westminster. Politicians in Uruguay have received invites from school students. In the USA Shakira is joining a media call with Gordon Brown and Robert Zoellick before appearing with students on Capitol Hill to raise awareness for the bipartisan Education for All Act 2007. In Venezuela schools are teaching the World’s Biggest Lesson to leaders and in Vietnam the World's Biggest Lesson is being held in all 64 provinces. Children in Zambia are marching before teaching the Vice President the World’s Biggest Lesson in Lusaka Freedom Statue. And In Zimbabwe the World's Biggest Lesson is going ahead and discussing school fees and drop out rates.
Shakira joins call with Zoellick and Brown

 21st April at 1pm EDT, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, World Bank President Robert Zoellick, and Grammy award-winning artist Shakira will participate in a special media conference call to discuss the state of global education, as part of the Global Campaign for Education’s Action Week. Shakira will also appear in Washington, DC on the 22nd April, with Members of Congress and students from across the United States to raise awareness for the bipartisan Education for All Act of 2007 (EFA). Download the press release here
World’s Biggest Lesson Resources!



 The World’s Biggest Lesson Plan, Posters, Leaflet, Stickers, and Policy Brief can be found here
Photos from the World’s Biggest Lesson can be viewed here
A special Shakira & World’s Biggest Lesson Poster is available to download here
The World’s Biggest Lesson film can be viewed here
A special presentation of children who’ve been excluded from education was compiled by the UK coalition and is available here
Report Back and be counted!


 In order to really break the Guinness TM record and get the biggest number of people ever taking the same lesson on the 23rd April, everyone needs to be counted. Don’t forget to send in your validation or report back forms to
validation@campaignforeducation.org or fill in the form online

Please send stories, photos and footage through to
actionweek@campaignforeducation.org
GCE Job: Education Sector Analyst

GCE is seeking a dynamic individual who combines up-to-date knowledge of education trends with a thorough understanding of the role of advocacy in achieving policy change. Closing Date 5th May (Interviews 8th and 9th May). Download the job description and application details from here
CAMPAIGN NEWS
Tribute to Steve Sinnott


 On the 5th April the world lost one of the great campaigners and leaders in the fight for Education for All, General Secretary of the National Union for Teachers in the UK, Steve Sinnott.

"The world has lost a committed campaigner for universal education rights and a great person. Steve Sinnott's personality and passion inspired whoever he met and he will be sorely missed. The impact of his work in improving the education and the lives of both teachers and children in the UK and all over the world will be felt for a long time to come."
Owain James, GCE Global Co-ordinator:

In an act of generosity Steve’s family have asked for charitable donations in Steve’s honour to be given to the Global Campaign for Education. A book of condolences is available online
UNESCO: Online forum on inclusive education


 UNESCO is holding an online discussion forum from April 1-30, 2008 on the theme of “Quality Education to End Exclusion”. The month-long forum is being held in support of Global Action Week 2008 (April 21-27). Quality and inclusion are key factors in attaining Education for All, UNESCO’s top priority.
Additional information available here
New VSO Report: Listening to Teachers in Mozambique


 This new VSO Mozambique report finds that teachers considered salary level to be the issue that has the biggest impact on their morale, followed by working conditions, training and administrative procedures. The report concludes that, although teachers are committed to their profession and want to continue to teach, the quality of education in Mozambique is threatened by the conditions in which teachers have to live and work and by the effect these are having on their performance, well-being and pride. Read the full report in English here or in Portuguese here
VSO Report: Teachers’ Voice in Nigeria


 This new VSO Nigeria report reveals that Nigerian teachers' are working in challenging conditions that are aggravated by poor remuneration; delays in the administration of salaries; allowances and promotions; scarce learning and teaching resources; and disrespect from government, parents and the community at large. Teachers feel ignored in the decision-making process and powerless in their efforts to improve the learning experience of their students, despite their desire and eagerness. Read the full report here
EDUCATION NEWS
FTI Technical Meeting


 The FTI donor partners will meet in Tokyo the week of the 21st April for the Steering Committee, Technical and several side meetings. The full agenda and list of participants are available on the FTI website here
Download the ‘Education & Financing Strategies for Fragile States Paper here
New GCE Spain Report: FTI - Spain, Honduras and Mozambique


 The report explains that over the past few years the FTI has facilitated donor coordination, policy alignment, and support to new instruments (such as budgetary support) aimed at fostering cooperation. However, with regards to the increase in ODA for basic education, the fact is that in spite of international commitments education is not being addressed as a clear priority by the main donors. With the exception of the Netherlands, the funds earmarked for basic education sectors from donors are still unacceptably low.. Download the full report here
Lesson of Sao Paulo Reforms: Get the Public on Your Side


 Sao Paulo's state school system, already one of the largest in Latin America, now seeks to become one of the most innovative as well. With five million students, 250,000 teachers, and 5,000 schools, the system's historically poor performance has affected a lot of children. Sao Paulo's dynamic secretary of education, Maria Helena Guimaraes de Castro, aims to change that, with the introduction of Latin America's most ambitious set of school reforms. Read Jeffrey Puryear’s full article here
Read article by Alejandro Ganimian here
Human Rights Watch Report. “Denied Status, Denied Education: Children of North Korean Women in China”

 This new report documents how such children live without legal identity or access to elementary education. These children live in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in eastern Jilin Province, northeast China (near its border with North Korea). Some are from North Korea while others were born in China and have Chinese fathers and North Korean mothers. The full report is available here
Womens’ Commission for Refugee Women and Children New Report

 Country at a Crossroads: Challenges Facing Young People in Sierra Leone Six Years after the War. here
IRAN: Attacks against Bahá’í children

 Recent research shows the denial of access to education for Bahá'í children in Iran, with cases of school expulsions, intimidation, harassment of school children. Even children at kindergarten were said to be expelled when their religion was identified. Read the more and the full report here
UNESCO DG: Ending Poverty Through Education

 “Learning and education are at the heart of all development and, consequently, of this global agenda. MDG 2 aims to ensure that children everywhere-boys and girls-will be able to complete a full course of good quality primary schooling. MDG 3 targets to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015.” Read the full article by Koïchiro Matsuur. here
ABOUT THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION (GCE):
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.
GCE’S MEMBERS:
Regional & International Organisations: ActionAid International, ANCEFA, ASPBAE, CAMFED, CARE, CEAAL, CLADE, Comic Relief, Early Childhood Care & Development, Education International, FAPE, FAWE, Fe y Alegria, Fundacion Ayuda en Accion, Global March Against Child Labour, Ibis, IDAY, Inclusion International, Leonard Cheshire Global Alliance, Light of the World: Christoffel Development Organisation, 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, Argentina: CAPDE, Armenia: ACRPC, Bangladesh : CAMPE, Benin: CBO-EPT, Bolivia: FEB, Brazil: CDE, Burkina Faso: CCEB, Cambodia: NGO Education Partnership, Cameroon: EFA Network, Canada: GCE Alliance, Chile: FECPT, Costa Rica: MERCC, 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: LETCOM, Malawi: CSCQBE, Mauritius: DCI, Mexico: ICE, Mozambique: MEPT, Nepal: GCE, Nicaragua: Foro Net, Niger: ROSEN, Nigeria: CSACEFA, Norway: Union of Education, Pakistan: PCE, Peru: MPDEP,Philippines: E-Net, Romania: GCE, Senegal: CONGAD, Sierra Leone: EFA Network, Solomon Islands: COESI, South Africa: GCE-SA, Spain: GCE Coalition, Sri Lanka: CED, Sweden: EFA Forum, Tanzania: TEN/MET, The Netherlands: GCE, Togo: CNT/CME, Uganda: FENU, UK:GCE-UK, Vietnam: GCE, Zambia:ZANEC, Zimbabwe: Teachers Association

To apply for membership please contact yunus@campaignforeducation.org
About this e-newsletter
Click here to unsubscribe.
If you have been forwarded this email and would like to subscribe please click here
Send e-newsletter enquiries and feedback to the editor Alex Kent at alex@campaignforeducation.org
Find out more about GCE on our website www.campaignforeducation.org