The Regional Meeting Of The Arab Coalitions / Tunisia – 2019

Between 2-6 / 3/2019 the Arab Regional Coalitions concluded its regional meeting, organised by The Arab Campaign for Education for All in partnership with the National Association for the Right to Education in Hammamet, Tunisia, in the presence of Mr. Refat Al Sabah president of GCE, Mr. Imad Sabi on behalf of the Open Society Foundation, Ms. Katarina Popovic, The General Coordinator of the international Council of Adult Education, and facilitated by Dr. Alia Al-Assali.

The representatives of the regional coalitions from Palestine, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Lebanon and Somalia participated in the meeting, which focused on the reality of educational coalitions in the Arab region and its role in tracking and evaluating educational policies, to promote and advance the education level to the citizens aspirations in a comprehensive educational renaissance, in a way that ensure the realisation of the right to a good, fair and inclusive education for all based on the international references that provide the right to education for all.

Participants during the workshops stopped on the obstacles that still affect the quality and democratisation of education in a way that guarantees equal opportunities for all, such as obstacles to overcrowding within schools, the poor efficiency of teachers and the required basic and continuous development, in addition to the nature of the educational curriculum that leaks to innovation, flexibility and convenience, as well as the deterioration of equipment and infrastructure of educational institutions.

The meeting also discussed the mechanisms used to encourage governments to continue implementing their commitments, especially the voluntary implementation of the right to education.

The workshop included workshops on strategic planning and Theory of change, as well as a workshop devoted to the methodology used in the preparation and drafting of voluntary national reports.

The meeting concluded by presenting a number of recommendations, the most important of which are:

1. Ask governments to ensure the right to quality, equitable and inclusive education for life for all.
2. Inviting the educational authorities to prepare an educational curriculum corresponding with today’s requirements, characterised by flexibility, renewal and assimilation of modernist enlightenment thought based on the realisation of reason and respect for the values ​​and principles of human rights as it is internationally recognised. It also develops the skills, knowledge and critical sense among learners, and prepare them well to practice the profession of teaching while providing the material and moral conditions to do their tasks in the best way.
3. Work on an integrated system in the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, vulnerable and marginalised groups, inclusive education and lifelong learning for all.

As for the educational coalitions, the following was stated:

1. To strengthen the capacities of Arab coalitions and strengthen their position in advocacy to achieve the objectives of the Arab Campaign for Education for All and the advancement of educational systems in the Arab region.
2. To establish mechanisms for coordination, networking and communication between coalitions at the regional and international levels and to find the financial support to carry out their tasks in an atmosphere of transparency and democracy.
3. Adoption of studies, research and database to help track and evaluate educational policies.