Ottawa Black Mental Health Coalition’s Post

Today marks International Education Day, celebrating the fundamental human right to education. 📚 In 2021, The European Child Guarantee was established to secure key services for children in need. Our research reveals that in 2022, nine EU Member States achieved the 2030 target of a 45% participation rate in education for three-year-olds during early childhood. However, only four achieved the 2030 goal of 96% for older children, highlighting the need for intensified efforts in ensuring education access. Learn more about guaranteeing access to services for children in the #EU: https://ow.ly/7ern50QtHpr #InternationalEducationDay

As a politician student , my take to this is that this move aims to regulate or normalize educational practices across the country, ensuring that all schools follow national policies that promote inclusivity and equal access to education. However, it is crucial to consider the potential drawbacks, such as the risk of undermining local governance and the unique needs of specific communities. While a unified policy can enhance educational equity, it must also respect the verbal and cultural diversity of South Africa. Therefore, it is essential for the Basic Education Department to engage with local stakeholders, including parents and educators, to create policies that reflect the needs of all communities while maintaining high educational standards across the board.

For an education "fit for the 21st Century", I'd like to start by ensuring that all rights for all children are respected, protected, fulfilled and promoted in all education settings and interactions. What would you like to see? https://lnkd.in/d2SwD7hd #AfricaDay #YearofEducation

The Day of the African Child (DAC) 2024 which was marked yesterday, comes exactly 33 years after the Heads of State and Government of the then OAU instituted the DAC in memory of the 16th June 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa. Looking back at the Soweto uprising which brought forward fundamental questions of legitimacy and equality, we must ask ourselves whether the continent has done enough to ensure her children are not faced with the apartheid-typed challenges that excluded and discriminated them in all aspects of their lives. This year’s theme dubbed “Education for all Children in Africa: the Time is Now” aligns with the African Union’s Year of Education, which focuses on building resilient education systems to ensure increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa. It's therefore time to reflect on whether there is enough momentum to finally liberate the African child just like the Soweto uprising that eventually contributed to apartheid’s downfall in 1994. As we honor the courage of the Soweto students who stood up for their right to quality education some 48 years ago, the profound significance of the day shouldn’t be lost on us. The bravery of these young souls must continue to inspire us to advocate for a future where every child in Africa can access education, free from barriers and limitations. Education should not merely be a privilege but a fundamental right that unlocks the doors to opportunities and drives social and economic development across our continent The time for action is indeed now. Despite the progress made, millions of African children remain out of school due to economic challenges, conflict, and inadequate infrastructure. We must forge a united front to tackle these challenges head-on with renewed vigor and commitment. It’s time for governments, civil society, and the international community to collaborate to invest in inclusive, equitable, and resilient education systems. It is therefore critical for us ensure that schools are made safe havens where every child, regardless of their background or circumstance, can learn and thrive. Technology and innovative teaching methods should equally be leveraged so as to bridge gaps and bring quality education to even the most remote areas. As a people and a continent still reeling from the baggage of inequalities, we must reaffirm our commitment to making education accessible to all children in Africa. Our collective efforts can transform lives, empower communities, and build a brighter future for our continent. Time is not ripe yet for us to rest our case. Let us all work assiduously to break down the barriers that impede educational access and ensure that every child can dream, learn, and achieve their full potential. Together, we can make the vision of universal quality education a reality. The time to act is now, and with resolute commitment, we can forge a path towards a prosperous and educated Africa.

The IRC’s new "Out of School” report, commissioned in partnership with CARE International in Poland and Save the Children International in Poland, delves into one of the significant challenges confronting the education system in Poland: Thousands of Ukrainian children and youth are not attending schools, potentially compromising their social and academic development, and hindering their integration into Polish society. Read more and download the report: https://lnkd.in/e92Skfec #UkrainianRefugees #RefugeeEducation #UkrainiansInPoland

And today, some insight into the Education system in South Africa, again for Expatica https://lnkd.in/gD5ifgB4

South Africa Strengthens the Right to Education

The Bakhita Partnership for Education in concert with JENA JCAM - the Social Justice and Ecology Office of the Jesuits Africa on behalf of the African child, and as a faith-inspired coalition, have united a network of educational and ecclesiastical institutions to advocate for transformative educational systems that honour the dignity and potential of every girl and boy in Africa. We address this petition through the esteemed AU-CIEFFA, the Centre for the Education of Girls and Women. In this African Union year of education, we urge you to remember the vulnerable and marginalised, especially in places of crisis, as we seek to illuminate paths of learning that have been darkened by inequality and neglect. Our commitment is unwavering, and our mission is clear: to ensure 100 per cent retention and to significantly improve access to and quality of education for all children, especially girls, in the targeted countries and schools. We call upon you to join us in this holy endeavour, to act decisively and compassionately, ensuring that our collective future is built upon the cornerstone of equitable education for all. We Petition the following: 1. Elevate Educational Funding; 2. Zero-rate tax on Sanitary Products; 3. Education for all; and 4. Uplift the Marginalised For more details on the petition see the link: 👇

Happy to share our just-now published work on What I really want: Policy maker views on education in Southeast Asia with Paul Cahu Mary E Breeding and Rythia Afkar. We found •Officials prioritize secondary school completion over learning quality in a new global survey of education policy makers. • Southeast Asian officials participating in the survey severely underestimate learning poverty. •Surveyed officials were most likely to cite system capacity as the primary constraint to improving learning. •In a discrete choice experiment, officials chose to invest in in-service teacher training or early-grade reading.