United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization

The Global Action Week (GAW) 2008 kicked off to a good start across Bangladesh. A wide range of activities are being organized in many parts of the country to mark the 2008 GAW, with active and enthusiastic participation by government officials, development partners, NGOs, community organizations, teachers, teacher associations, students, parents, media professionals, and ordinary citizens.

 

 

The Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU), with financial support from UNESCO Dhaka, Kicked off the GAW in Bangladesh with a big rally in Dhaka on 21 April 2008.  Over 300 students from ASPnet schools and their teachers spearheaded the rally. Senior officials from the Ministry of Education, University Grants Commission, Bangladesh Bureau of Education Information and Statistics, UNESCO Dhaka, and Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO took part in the rally. The colorful banners and placards and the speeches of the officials who spoke at the rally underscored the main theme of the GAW 2008: Quality education: End Exclusion Now!

Media Professionals for EFA

The Media Professionals Group (MPG), in collaboration with UNESCO Dhaka, organized a consultation meeting on the role of the media and media professionals in the EFA movement. Over 70 journalists representing most of the main media organizations in the country attended the meeting. Many of the participants came from the districts outside Dhaka where they report issues closer to local governments and communities. The main objective of the meeting was to explore the possibility of forming and operationalizing a Media Forum for EFA. The issues discussed included the nature and activities of the proposed Forum; the role of the media as a stakeholder, partner, agenda-setter, and promoter of dialogue and national consensus on matters related to education; the main and authoritative sources of news on EFA; and training opportunities for journalists who report on educational issues. A committee was set up to put forward recommendations regarding the structure, terms of reference, and funding for the proposed Media Forum for EFA.

 

Policy Roundtable on “Ending Exclusion in Education”

A policy roundtable on “Ending Exclusion in Education” was jointly organized by UNESCO Dhaka and the Media Professionals Group on 24 April 2008 in the VIP Lounge of the National Press Club, Dhaka. Honorable Advisor, Primary and Mass Education, Women and Children, and Cultural Affairs, Ms. Rasheda K. Chowdhury, was the Chief Guest. The Director of UNESCO Dhaka, Mr. Malama Meleisea, Former Minister of Education, Mr. Osman Faruk, and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Transparency International Bangladesh, participated in the roundtable together with academicians, politicians, teacher associations, NGOs, and media professionals. The main focus of the discussion was ending exclusion through quality improvement coupled with a comprehensive and inclusive national education policy. Among the recommendations put forward was one related to the importance of ratifying the Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960). The findings of a comprehensive study Many Languages, One Voice, was presented by Mr. Reza Al-Huda from Care Bangladesh. The study was conducted by the Indigenous Children’s Education Forum (ICFF) and highlighted the educational status of indigenous children and efforts aimed at addressing their needs.

Launching of the EFA Global Monitoring Report 2008