Next week, teachers' unions and NGOs worldwide will request governments to ensure that all children get the chance to be taught by qualified teachers.
Global Action Week is one of the many advocacy activities undertaken by EI to remind governments and donor agencies of their responsibility to provide quality public education to all children. This year's theme Every Child Needs a Teacher firmly places teachers in the centre of the fight to get every child into school and to receive a quality education. “To get 100 million illiterate children into school, over 15 million new qualified teachers are needed, because qualified teachers are the key to quality education. Teachers need to be fully trained, and to have status, respect, decent wages and adequate working conditions,” says EI President Thulas Nxesi. “New investments in education are crucial to make sure that qualified teachers are hired and that the teaching and learning environment is improved worldwide,” adds Thulas Nxesi. Teachers’ unions and NGOs working under the umbrella of the Global Campaign for Education will, in many countries, collect evidence and research on the shortage of qualified teachers, and will present these to officials. Politicians and officials are also returning to school to experience school conditions first hand. Contact your local GCE coalition or teachers' union to find out more about GAW activities in your country. EI member organisations in 55 countries are actively involved in Global Action Week activities.