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Last week's 'Global Action Week' saw international attention turn towards the global education crisis. UNESCO's new research, announced a much greater than previously anticipated teacher shortfall. 18 million more teachers are needed if every child is to receive a quality education. 100 million children are still being denied the opportunity of going to school. Millions more are sitting in over-crowded classrooms for only a few hours a day. Without urgent action these children will remain in poverty and at far greater risk of HIV infection. The lack of teachers for every child is unacceptable and unnecessary. Teachers are the unsung heroes of our age. It's only once they are recognised that Education For All will be realised. From 24 – 30th April, civil society, made up of child rights activists, teacher unions and NGOs showed they really care about ensuring every child gets a quality education, delivered by a quality teacher. United in their asks, across the world, in 112 countries, millions of children and campaigners held mock court hearings, taught lessons, marched streets, painted pictures, made posters, met officials, voted for teachers and added their voice to the campaign. In Malawi the young girl Lusubilo Nyondo, asked the Minister of Education: " As you sit confidently in front of others do you think of what I need to also sit in that chair in future?" World leaders heard voices cry 'Every Child Needs A Teacher'. Backed by strong evidence this call made it incumbent the world to act, immediately. Rich and poor countries alike must rise to the challenge. Teachers must now become the centrepiece of national efforts to achieve the dream that every child can have an education of good quality by 2015. These country snapshots demonstrate selected events during Global Action Week: . (for more country information visit: http://www.campaignforeducation.org/action/action_country_updates.html) In Albania thousands of children drew pictures of their 'ideal teacher' and met with members of parliament to discuss quality education. Events in Armenia included a mass debate on teachers, between many schools and politicians, and messages for education were given to the government and world leaders. Austrian teachers went to a session in parliament – and made specific asks of the government for more attention on teachers and pupils. In Bangladesh an absolute amazing 1 million people took part - by collecting hard hitting evidence in support of teachers. Children's sketches, writings, photographs were all used in lobbying at all levels and in 30 Big Hearings. Across Benin teachers voices could be heard on the radio, and in a nationwide film that depicts the harsh reality of teaching in rural areas. Colourful exhibitions were held across Bolivia , showing how children would view the perfect teacher and school. Brazil 's President Lula attended the country's Big Hearing after similar trials for teachers had been held throughout the country. At the meeting President Lula reiterated efforts to attain Education For All as a part of the country's fight against poverty. Burundi hosted a day of reflection and a national demonstration, in which students and teachers came together to lobby officials for the need to reduce class sizes, and employ more teachers. Children in Burkina Faso presented the Minister of Education with cut-out teachers and huge crowds took part in the country's march for education. In Cambodia almost 400 organisations came together, putting forward the case for Every Child Needs a GOOD Teacher, in a national Big Hearing. Campaigners were active across Cameroon collecting evidence and bringing officials back to school to focus on education. Children in Canada have been busy making the 'World's Largest Poster for Education', which contains pictures and messages to the Prime Minister, asking for more commitment to education in poor countries. www.campaignforeducationcanada.org Chad had actors read children's messages on the radio, to which parents and teachers responded and presented their recommendations in the form of a Big Hearing. Chile 's Action Week slogan was "We Want A-Grade Teachers!" under which children presented asks for excellent teachers to the Ministry of Education and Teachers Union at a mass public ceremony. www.opcion.cl In China thousands of children, some excluded, others going to school, took part in the Action Week and demanded quality teachers. Colombia hosted education forums, a Big Hearing, public art exhibitions and children's parties through out the week bringing everyone's attention to Every Child Needs a Teacher. Cote D'Ivoire 's Minister of Education was targeted by campaigners and as a result has committed to finalise the country's Education For All plans in the near future. One third of all schools in Denmark took part in making the country's longest ever poster, which had the words My Friend Needs a Teacher. Children signed the poster with thumb prints and displayed it outside of parliament. www.ibis.dk/abc In Democratic Republic of Congo , many politicians and officials got involved. They witnessed processions, debates, football matches, songs, and displays that highlighted the needs of teachers. In Ecuador students in hundreds of schools wrote stories and debated about their ideal teachers. Egypt 's Big Hearing, on May 7, gives voice to what children need from teachers in order to get the best education possible. Throughout El Salvador's Action Week, campaigners were busy meeting politicians to demand increases in national investment on education, and the protection of female teachers, especially those working in risky and violent areas. In Ethiopia retired teachers, community leaders and professors were among the people putting forward the case for teachers. In Finland nearly every teacher received information about Action Week and education in poor countries, and many were encouraged to take part in the Global Campaign. Thousands went on-line in France , giving their voices and stories to the President via a special website and blog - http://solidaritelaique.provita.fr/blog/index.htm. Music was a focal point in the Gambia, as rap songs and traditional dancers depicted the case for teacher to politicians who attended the national Big Hearing. Throughout Georgia children's essays and ideas about ideal teachers were collected and delivered to politicians who went back to visit their old school, and at the national Big Hearing. Germany had double the number of students involved since last year. They wrote stories, collected evidence and found out what it was like to teach for a day. Their hard work was delivered to the government with a letter demanding the aid promises be kept and aid to education be increased to Euro 120 mill a year. www.bildungskampagne.org Action Week in Ghana cumulated in a Big Hearing, after evidence from teachers and international education funding had been gathered. Children in Greece have been busy making colourful cut-out 'teachers' which will be displayed around Athens in June. In Haiti out of school children for once had their voices heard, alongside parents and teachers, who together described the need for education. Maps were drawn to highlight schools with only one teacher, and presented to President Rene Preval at the national Big Hearing. Honduras hosted a range of campaign events that were shown on TV and radio bringing attention to the importance of achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Teachers in Hungary took part in a "What Teachers for Hungary in XXI century?" conference, discussing the need for training reforms. In India more than 15,000 children campaigned for teachers, painting pictures for an art competition. On entering the competition, one 14 year old, Shilpi, who was recently rescued from child labour, said: "I can not properly imagine a school to paint on this large sheet of paper as I have never been to a school since I was born." In Indonesia a colourful Big Hearing, road demonstrations, and exhibitions put forward the Global Campaign for Education's demands for more, better respected and better paid teachers. Ireland 's Big Hearing was entitled Teaches Matter in Quality Education and hosted discussions by students and the Minister for Development Cooperation. Kenya 's Action Week saw officials go back to school, and a national Big Hearing in a poorly resourced school in Nairobi slum area. A Big Hearing in Lebanon took place at the UNESCO Palace where students presented dramas, songs and dossiers to the Minister of Education. In Liberia officials went back to school and were lobbied by children and teachers. Children's voices were head across Macedonia as they took to the streets and shouted for more, better quality teachers. Children who presented the best evidence for teachers were awarded at a children's party. Madagascar 's Action Week gathered all the key players in education who took part in the Big Hearing, and focused the government's attention on Quality Teachers. In Malawi politicians and celebrities retuned back to school and were presented the case for teachers which demanded increases in investment in quality education and teachers. One young girl Lusubilo Nyondo, asked the Minister of Education: "Have you asked me what I need as a pupil? As you sit confidently in front of others do you think of what I need to also sit in that chair in future?" In Malaysia dossiers of evidence were collected throughout the country and presented in two Big Hearings which hosted an informed dialogue between teachers, students and politicians. Mali's Action Week climaxed in a huge national meeting in Bamako, bringing together parent teacher associations, school managers, teachers and administrators. In Mauritania young people took part in concerts and a Big Hearing. They collected evidence that provided solutions to dealing with the insufficient numbers of teachers especially women. This was presented to the Head of State, Prime Minister and Minister of Education Mexico is the home of the World's Oldest Teachers: Albina Cruces, who retired last year at the age of 102. Her interview gave a touching account of her life as a teacher, and inspired campaigners to invite officials back to school and write letters to the President. Morocco hosted a theatre production and a national Big Hearing where education officials talked to parents, teaches and students. In Mozambique campaigners maintained the attention on education, following Gordon Brown's recent visit. They invited officials back to school to commit to making education for all a reality. Netherlands had a special day for teachers, when they worked together with teachers from Senegal , Ghana and India on recommendations to improve quality education. These were presented to Mrs Van Ardenne, the Minister of Development Cooperation. www.globalcampaignforeducation.nl In New Zealand campaigners focused on how to achieve quality education and teachers in the neighbouring Pacific countries. Norway hosted a seminar that discussed teachers as the means to achieving Education for All In Pakistan the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited urban schools in Islamabad and told teachers to make every effort to raise their prestige, respect and compensation. Addressing a large audience, Aziz announced the country's determination to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and the proposed forthcoming budget increase for teachers. Peru hosted a public hearing to highlight the need for quality education and teachers, which will be continued with more lobbying after the change of government in July. Nationwide workshops in Philippines hosted beautiful artwork representations of teachers and their challenges, many painted by poor children who are out of school. In Poland there was a week of documentaries and TV programmes about what education looks like in developing countries. Campaigners in Romania used new data to highlight the teachers and education discrepancies between rural and urban areas. Politicians visited schools and were questioned on their actions to improving education since last year's campaign. Rwanda 's Big Hearing took place a week later in Kigali. . A colourful education bus that represents all children containing message for quality education for all, was presented to 50 politicians. In Senegal musicians and sport stars have spoken out saying 'Every Child Needs a Teacher", and signed a declaration that has been used to lobby the members of parliament. During Action Week in the Seychelles children collected evidence and wrote statements on 'We need a teacher because…' These were delivered to the Ministry of Education and School Managers whilst they partook in panel discussions In Sierra Leone campaigners held a Big Hearing in Freetown's National Stadium. Children and teachers were addressed by the President, on the importance and commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Gaols. Campaigners in the Solomon Islands collected dossiers to present the case for teachers to policy makers and politicians. In Somalia school children discussed how they could support their friends out of school to get an education. Throughout the country campaigners focused on how to reduce the numbers of street children who have no access to school. South African celebrities and politicians, and SA's Minister of Education went going Back to School. Among them was the popular music star, Zola and the Sesame Street puppets. On visiting the school Zola announced: If the government can build four prisons – why can't they build one primary school and pay teachers. Across Spain 100 politicians received classes taught by children. After which the officials told stories of the teachers that had been important to their life. A 'bus for education' also drove around all levels of the government advocating for every child to have a teacher. www.cme-espana.org In Sri Lanka evidence was collected in the form of drawings, statements, video clips and stories about teachers and presented to the president at a national Big Hearing. Dialogue will now continue so that commitments to teachers can be established. Sudan 's Action Week was a flying success. The Big Hearing took the form of a carnival with hundreds of children demonstrating for teachers and presenting messages to the President and the Minister of Education. Suriname 's Action Week started with colourful exhibitions and speeches. The Minister of Education discussed quality education with children and signed a pledge of action. Politicians in Sweden attended a debate on "Every Child Needs a Teacher". Campaigners focused on education in poor countries and children in rural Sweden, asking them all to be provided with qualified teachers. Tanzania 's Action Week was successful in getting women teachers' views aired on national TV and radio. The Big Hearing was held in Dodoma, where girls and boys, and children with disabilities presented their views to the Parliament. Thailand 's disadvantaged and marginalised children took part in a learning camp, where they shared their experiences and expressed their feelings through music. After the fun open-air day, campaigners called upon the government to allocate more money, so that qualified teachers could be recruited for all disadvantaged children. Togo 's Big Hearing, involved many communities and teachers coming together debating improvements in education, after officials had returned back to school through out the Action Week. In Uganda thousands of children took the time to march through the streets beside teachers. The day included exhibitions, dramas, poems, songs and speeches all bringing the urgent need for teachers to the forefront and was attended by the Minister of Education. The UK's Global Action Week launched 3 months of campaigning to the theme My Friend Needs A Teacher, in which campaigners are making cut-out 'teachers' that will be presented to MPs and the Prime Minister. During Action Week campaigners went to parliament to explain the need for more teachers globally. www.sendmyfriend.org In Uruguay campaigners worked with the Education Ministry to promote Education For All. After the week was launched in parliament, a Big Hearing was held at the national library. The country's Director of Education remarked concern and commitment of the need to tackle the issues of education that were raised. www.icae.org.uy In the USA children were busy making posters on education for all children, for a competition. There were displayed at a Big Hearing on Capitol Hill, where children from the US, and former child labourers from Peru and India met Senators and Spokespeople. The famous Hollywood star, Angelina Jolie, also joined the campaign and spoke out for education, gathering a vast amount of global coverage for GCE. www.campaignforeducationusa.org In Uzbekistan students, teachers and school administrators took part in an on-line forum and shared information about how to enable every child to have a teacher. Vietnam 's Action Week hosted a massive symposium in Hanoi, which was attended by the Minister of Education. GCE members celebrated the week, by marching, drawing competitions, and festivals on the topic of 'my ideal teacher'. The majority of campaigning in Zambia is happening in May, following much research on the need for teachers. This will be presented in a documentary, on air discussions and campaigners will march past and lobby the government for another 7,000 trained teachers. In Zimbabwe campaigners and drum majorettes marched through the towns, with banners for education. Following speeches and drama, officials went 'back to school' in order to support all children being able to go to school.