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Summary: After a tireless week of campaigning, the
Global Action Week for education came to an
end, leaving the corridors of power resounding
with the call to Send my Friend to School.
Children and young people in over 100
countries have shown their passion in
demanding the basic right of every child to
receive a quality education.
After a tireless week of campaigning, the Global Action Week for education
came to an end, leaving the corridors of power resounding with the call to
Send my Friend to School. Children and young people in over 100 countries
have shown their passion in demanding the basic right of every child to
receive a quality education. Politicians have responded to their calls by
making firm commitments and pledges on education in countries across the
globe.
The Global Campaign for Education would like to send congratulations to all
groups who helped to make the week such a success. Meanwhile, the
Director General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, sent a message of support
and congratulations to GCE campaigners involved in the Action Week: "I
congratulate you for reaching out simultaneously to people in villages and
politicians at the highest level through civil society coalitions around the
world... UNESCO warmly joins the chorus of voices rising around the world
to guarantee a place in school to every 'friend' currently denied his or her
right".
Below are the latest country highlights - with more to follow in the next
few days. Pictures of events and more country highlights can be found on
the GCE website - www.campaignforeducation.org
Ireland - Development Minister signs pledge to increase aid to education
The Irish Development Minister signed a pledge to ensure that the Irish
government meets its commitment to increase Overseas Development Aid
to 0.7% of GNP, in line with UN recommendations, and to increase it's
spending on education accordingly. The pledge was a result of months of
lobbying by the Irish GCE coalition.
Irish school children have been making cut-out 'friends' since November
2004. The Irish cut-out 'friends' are all being collected during the Action
Week to be shipped to the G8 Summit as part of the million 'friends' event.
Meanwhile, local politicians have been going 'back to school' through out
the Action Week
Pakistan - March by 4,000 children and teachers is followed by an address
from the Education Minister
On April 28, 4,000 schoolchildren and their teachers participated in a march
to the parliament. They were also joined by the Minister of Education and
Minister of State for Education, with an address from the Education Minister
given at the end of the event, where he pledged the governments
commitment to education. Meanwhile, across regions throughout Pakistan,
children have been busy making cut-out 'friends' and inviting
politicians 'Back to School'.
Burkina Faso - March with 'friends' to Parliament to hand over declaration
to Prime Minister
In Burkina Faso, a march by children was followed by the presentation of a
statement on education to the Prime Minister on April 30. Government and
education authorities were also brought together in 44 provinces to attend
similar events.
Cambodia - Pledge event sees Deputy Minister re-affirm the governments'
commitment to education
During a national pledge event on April 26, 3000 children and young
people, flanked by their cut-out 'friends', demanded that the Government
take immediate actions to enable their 'friends' as well as other children
could go to school. Both the Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Sok, and Minister
of Education responded to the children's pleas by pledging to reduce
poverty and push forward with increased commitment and urgency in their
education plan.
The event was also attended by; the Coordinator for Education For All,
Minister of Information, Municipality Governor, Secretary of State, NGOs,
ambassadors, donors and other senior Government officials.
Bangladesh - Meet the 'Law-Makers' event sees children questioning key
political figures
On April 26, children had a question-answer session with law makers of
the Bangladeshi National Parliament. The session started with a meeting
with the Chief Whip of the Parliament in his office premises in the
Parliament. The State Minister of Law and Justice chaired the session, with
the Chief Whip of Opposition party of the parliament, the General Secretary
of all parties Parliamentarian Caucus on Education also took part in the
session.
India - Children "Knock the Doors" Parliamentarians to ask them to sign
pledges
April 27 - 28 saw parliamentarians across Delhi, India, woken by groups of
children demanding that they take action on education. More than 200
legislative members and leaders of various political parties, were
awakened with a knock on their doors early in the morning by over 100
children. The children reminded politicians about the pledges made on
education by the Government of India and asked them to sign a pledge to
take action on education.
Chile - Performance in capital with 'friends'.
April 29 saw a public performance, with cut-out 'friends', collected from
different parts of Chile, in Santiago, the capital of Chile. Hundreds of young
people participated together with politicians and education authorities.
Similar activities were carried out at the same time in other cities to help
build public awareness of the state and quality of education in Chile.
Jamaica - MPs have gone 'back to school' across Jamaica
On April 29, MPs across Jamaica were invited 'Back to School' in all
constituencies of Jamaica. On the same day, a televised debate by young
people on education also took place, which will be broadcast live by
Television Jamaica.