2006 Global Action Week for Education: Every Child Needs a Teacher

Every Child Needs a Teacher

With its theme "Every Child needs a Teacher" this year's Global Action Week firmly places teachers in the spotlight. Every two weeks between now and 24 April, Education International are sending updates on what teachers' unions are up to in different countries. EI invites interested organisations to share information about their activities at [email protected].

Right now, over 100 million children wake up every day without the hope that education offers. These children know AIDS, know poverty, know hard labour, know hunger... but they will never know a teacher. There are simply not enough teachers to ensure every child can get a quality education:

  • The United Nations estimates that at least 15 million more teachers are needed for the universal primary education goal alone.
  • There is a desperate need for more qualified teachers - many low income countries currently save money by hiring teachers with little training, and pay them poorly.
  • Teachers are under pressure, coping with enormous classes, poor living and working conditions and many are affected by HIV/AIDS. Yet good teachers are essential for children to learn, female teachers are particularly important for helping girls stay in school.

The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) will be watching politicians, to ensure they keep their promises of enabling every child to go to school and be taught by a qualified teacher.

GCE is demanding rich countries:

  • increase aid and cancel debt
  • support countries' long-term education plans including teacher salaries
  • end harmful donor conditions that prevent countries employing sufficient numbers of professional teachers

GCE demands poor countries:

  • increase public spending on education
  • ensure quality teaching by training teachers to a professional standard
  • pay teachers a living wage and give them a say in education policy-making
  • reduce class sizes and improve classroom conditions

 

Information

For information on how to participate in the Global Action Week:

  • visit the Global Campaign for Education website to get a comprehensive resource pack or email [email protected]
  • visit the NetAid website which provides options to get involved in this year's campaign, facts, figures and an action pack

 

Resources

Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2006: Literacy for Life (UNESCO)

Education Fact Sheet (NetAid)
 

 

pdf: www.campaignforeducation.org/action/action.html

Countries

    Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.