Zhuri Bryant, GCE-US Intern & Duke University Campus Leader,
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact education for youth all over the world, advocates in Morocco are working to ensure that private schools are not the only establishments recieving support from the government. Read more here!
An estimated 22.8 million children aged 5-16 are out-of-school in Pakistan. At present, Pakistan has the world's second-highest number of out-of-school children (OOSC), representing 44 percent of the total population in this age group. Punjab has the dubious distinction of having the highest average literacy rate in Pakistan of 61%, as it remains lop-sided with deep pockets of illiteracy. A closer examination shows that the provincial average does not tell the complete story and masks the poor situation in the southern districts of the province. In Rahim Yar Khan District, only one in three people is literate.
Children can be powerful agents of change when given the chance to succeed. However, protracted crises and natural disasters have denied an estimated 50 million children their childhood and the opportunity to reach their full potential. Children’s vulnerabilities are amplified in emergency settings, where children are often exposed to repeated traumatic events. They are at a higher risk of being exploited, sexually abused, trafficked, and recruited into extremist groups. Adverse experiences during early childhood development can have repercussions on physical, cognitive, and emotional development, negatively impacting future well-being and functioning.
Important update from all of us at GCE-US:Education for all, collaborative advocacy & partnership are more important now than ever. Join in doubling our actions in challenging times!
March marks Women’s History Month, a time where we celebrate the achievements of women and the strides we have taken towards equality. While there is much to celebrate, there is also much to be improved. Currently, there are 132 million girls who are out of school and do not have access to an education. Moreover, two thirds of all illiterate adults are women. It’s time we start investing in girls’ education, as the success of young girls and women leads to the success of society.
“Across all roles and settings, advancing equity requires a dedication to self-reflection, a willingness to respectfully listen to others’ perspectives without interruption or defensiveness, and a commitment to continuous learning to improve practice.” — Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education, NAEYC
In many schools around the world, extracurricular activities of any kind are rarely or never available – yet there is so much more to the educational experience than classroom learning alone. Activities such as clubs, sports competitions, and cultural events can foster children’s intellectual curiosity and growth, confidence, and social functioning in ways that the more structured and formal classroom environment may not be able to do.
As human beings, we tend to think that a change is not always good or beneficial -- that it is scary and unpredictable. For me, I think change is necessary.
I am from Guatemala, a country in Central America that is marginalized and often called a “Third World Country,” because of poverty, corruption, and gender inequality. I’m not sure why we call them Third World Countries, though, because in fact they are countries in progress, seeking common benefit.