Global Action Week 2010 calls for increased funding for education
Global Action Week (GAW) which takes place from 19-25 April, will raise the visibility of education financing issues with policy-makers and the international community and call for increased financial support for EFA.
An advocacy campaign organized each year by the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), GAW 2010 calls on governments and donors to act together, mobilize their resources and honour the US$50 billion aid to education increase pledged during the Gleneagles G-8 summit.
UNESCO, as coordinator of the Education for All (EFA) movement, has been an active supporter of GAW campaigns since their inception and will be organizing activities around the world related to education financing as well as promoting the 2010 campaign.
At country level, UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet) in all regions of the world are invited to participate in the 2010 Global Action Week, particularly in the world’s largest school lesson on 20 April, entitled “1GOAL: Lesson for All” which is the highlight of the 2010 campaign. This lesson will focus on the provision of quality public education as a human right, and highlight the current financing challenges to providing education for all.
“1GOAL: Education for All” is an advocacy campaign that seeks to raise awareness about the importance of education. Using video and print media, it will involve well-known sports broadcasters, sponsors, players and teams. The 2010 FIFA World Cup (South Africa, 11 June – 11 July 2010), taking place for the first time in Africa, will bring to the attention of billions of fans the progress, challenges and constraints linked to providing education on the African continent. The campaign will continue beyond GAW and gain momentum in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup.
Although aid for education has increased in recent years, an annual financing gap of US$16 billion remains. Moreover, aid to education does not always reach those who need it most. Poverty, gender, ethnicity, language, location and disability are obstacles to providing education to the hardest-to-reach groups. Education in countries affected by conflict is not receiving enough support, undermining prospects for recovery. Among the solutions to improve access and affordability for excluded groups are lowering cost barriers, bringing schools closer to marginalized communities and developing ‘second-chance’ programmes.
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UNESCO ASPnet schools join the biggest lesson in the world for GAW