2008: Quality Education to End Exclusion: The World's Biggest Lesson

For the sixth time education campaigners around the globe came out in record numbers to commemorate Global Action Week. Since starting in 2003 the week has grown from two million people to a record 8.8 million people in 2008. During the week civil society, intergovernmental organizations and some governments unite at a national level in over 100
countries making one clarion call: education must be made available for all and that access must be matched with quality.

It has been universally accepted that education is a human right. Its quality should not be a privilege but a right as well and that is why the theme for 2008, Quality Education to End Exclusion reinforces the need for governments to increase funding to ensure that quality is a reality. Quality requires money. Quality should not only be a preserve of privately funded schools but the state/public school system which holds the bulk of learners. Quality education is in line with goal six of the Education for All goals.

In many countries, the call for Education for All has increased the number of students in class, but the teacher to student ratio is very unhealthy and it is impossible for teachers to manage such huge numbers of students in one class. There is still a lack of materials and many schools are in deplorable conditions not conducive for effective learning. With this in mind, it cannot be said that everyone needs a good education; not just an education.

Download the Global Action Week 2008 Big Book in English | Español | França