Transcript Education: A Tool for Peace

Education: A Tool for Peace and
Development
Dennis Sinyolo, PhD.
Senior Coordinator, Education and Employment
Education International
Outline
1. Why is education so important?
2. Can education alone solve all societal problems?
3. The status of teachers worldwide: better, the same or
worse than ever?
4. Looking into the future: with optimism?
Why is education so important?
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you
can use to change the world.” (Nelson Mandela)
Education transforms lives
Source: EFA Global Monitoring Report (GMR)
Can education alone solve all societal problems?
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Youth unemployment
Intolerance
Racism
Xenophobia…
Holistic approach key to addressing social and
developmental issues– education, policy, legislation, societal
response…
Education remains out of reach for many
• 58 million children of primary going age remain out of school
• 69 million adolescents are out of school
• 774 million adults cannot read and write (nearly 2/3 of them
women)
• 168 million children are in child labour
• 250 million children are not learning the basics
Source: 2013/14 GMR & ILO
But many children around the world do not
have teachers
• 3.4 million more primary teachers and 5.1 million lower
secondary teachers will be needed to provide all children
with basic education by 2030 (UIS)
• Many children in developing countries learn in
overcrowded classrooms without basic resources
Declining status of teachers?
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Recruitment of unqualified teachers: a major challenge
Low salaries and poor/deteriorating conditions of service for teachers
Casualisation of the teaching profession through short-term contracts
(less pay; no job security; no social security…)
Accountability mechanisms based on competition rather than
collaboration among teachers and schools
Linking teacher performance and remuneration to standardised
assessments and its impact on the school curriculum and learners
Deskilling and loss of professional status for migrant teachers
Safety for teachers and students
What can be done?
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Make teaching an attractive and first choice profession
Adopt a life-long learning approach to teacher education
Governments must invest in initial teacher preparation, recruit and
deploy female and male teachers in such a way that every child is
taught by a qualified teacher
Governments need to institute induction programmes for all newlyqualified teachers and to invest in in-service training for all teachers
and school leaders
Governments and employers should improve the salaries and
conditions of service for all teachers
Governments should ensure institutionalised social dialogue (CB),
guarantee freedom of association and the right to organise
International solidarity key
Educators must speak with one voice and act
together to defend and promote quality education
for all, their professional status and working
conditions.
An injury to one is an injury to all!
Looking into the future : with optimism?
• Future development goals after 2015 must have education
and teachers at their core
• The right of every child, youth and adult to quality
education must be guaranteed by the state through
appropriate policy, legislation and adequate funding
• All governments must ensure that all learners are taught by
qualified, professionally-trained, motivated and wellsupported teachers
Thank you!
[email protected]