On March 25th Aga Khan Foundation Canada co-hosted the Canadian launch of this year’s UNESCO Global Monitoring Report (GMR) on Education for All. The report, which was originally released on January 19, 2010 by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York, is the prime instrument for assessing global progress towards achievement of the Education for All goals – a set of six measurable targets endorsed by 160 countries at the World Education Forum in 2000.
The report tracks progress, identifies effective policy reforms and best practice, draws attention to emerging challenges and seeks to promote international cooperation in favour of education. Each annual edition of the GMR targets a specific theme of relevance to achievement of the Education for All goals. This year’s theme is Reaching the Marginalized.
AKFC co-hosted the launch in collaboration with the Canadian Global Campaign for Education (CGCE), a coalition of civil society organizations working to enhance Canada’s contribution to the goals.
A thoughtful cohort of speakers and panellists addressed 80 government and NGO practitioners in the atrium of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat. Following AKFC CEO Khalil Shariff’s opening remarks, Kevin Watkins, the report’s principle author, delivered a presentation on the key messages of the report. “The purpose,” he said, “is to hold governments’ feet to the fire to ensure that Education for All goals are reached. The Millennium Development Goals are not achievable if we fall short in education, since education is a multiplier of development outcomes.”
The panel, moderated by David Walden from UNESCO, comprised of Carol Bellamy, EFA Board of Directors; Marie-Josée Fortin, Association of Canadian Community Colleges; Nadine Grant, Plan Canada; Andrew Parkin, Council of Ministers of Education, Canada; and Leslie Tettey, Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition. The panellists discussed successes in filling the educational gaps over the past year, such as the difficulties in reaching marginalized groups, and the particular issues facing educators in countries of conflict. Lengthy discussion also centred on Canada’s role: panellists reinforced the power of Canada’s example and encouraged Canada to exercise leadership on investments in education, especially in light of the upcoming G8 meetings.
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