Children tell world leaders: "Send us teachers!"

Thousands of children worldwide demanded the right to a proper education of world leaders in April. As part of Global Campaign for Education (GCE) Action Week, they delivered cardboard teachers to governments and education authorities, with the message “send us a teacher”.

At least 15 million more teachers are needed, if every child is to have the chance of a primary education.

Over 100 million children worldwide are missing out on schooling (UN estimate).

Tom Miller, CEO of Plan, says:

"There is a critical shortage of qualified teachers in many developing countries.

Funding shortfalls mean that numbers of poorly trained and poorly paid teachers are increasing. It is children who bear the consequences of this policy.

"Plan welcomes the recent prioritization of education in international development following last year’s Gleneagles summit.

But there still remains a $10 billion a year funding shortfall which the G8 countries must tackle to make education a reality for all children. Poor countries need money for more teachers and classrooms."

Plan is working with children in 46 developing countries and their families throughout Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Highlights of Plan’s Action Week activities worldwide include:

Benin
In Plan program areas in Benin, teachers are routinely teaching 80-100 students.

Thousands of school children from all over Benin made cardboard cut-outs of teachers, to press the government for a better education.

Hundreds of them had the opportunity to meet their country’s elected senators and Benin's President, to lobby for more teachers and explain first-hand how their education is being affected.

More information from: Josephine Kora-Thama, Plan Benin, tel + 229 21 384773, email Josephine.kora-thama@plan-international.org

Dominican Republic
Plan is an active partner in a nationwide Social Education Forum, seeking to tackle the shortage of teachers in the country.

40 schools from every province took part in a child consultation workshop, to explore the value of education.

An exhibition of children’s work, “The Big Picture”, is being displayed at the Latin American Regional Book Fair in Santo Domingo from the 24 April until 31 May.

Further information from: Ann Salzarulo-McGuigan, Plan Dominican Republic, tel + 1-809 482 7700, email ann.mcguigan@plan-international.org

China
Over 20,000 children from 94 schools in Pucheng County, Shaanxi Province, aged 7 to 15 took part in activities. Selected student representatives from five Plan-supported primary schools presented letters and proposals for improved education to government officials attending their schools.

More information from Gladys Wang, Plan China, tel +86 29 8810 2399, email lei.wang@plan-international.org

Vietnam
Over 30,000 primary and lower secondary students joined the action week activities together, with leaders from the provincial, district and commune levels. Activities included awareness-raising sessions, discussion forums, drawing contests, children's festivals and camping events.
 
At national level, Plan Vietnam joined with UNESCO, Save the Children UK, Oxfam GB, Child Fund Australia, World Vision and the Ministry of Education and Training to publish a joint statement and magazine highlighting good practices required to achieve Education For All.

More information from Lisa Harris, Plan Vietnam, tel + 84 4 8 220661 (ext 32), email, lisa.harris@plan-international.org