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Inaugural Education Project To Turn Rhetoric Into Reality
 

15 September 2009, Manama: Plans for a global education event to be held in Bahrain next month are gathering pace as governments worldwide are being urged to invest in education to meet growing population demands and alleviate social deprivation, as a driver of improved standards of living and economic development.

The inaugural Education Project, set up by H.H. Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain and Chairman of the Kingdom’s Economic Development Board (EDB), will take place in Manama from October 15–17 2009 to address the gap in the global education system.  Seventy five million children across the world are without an education; a situation at risk of being exacerbated by the global economic downturn as education budgets and aid commitments feel the pinch. At the same time the world’s population is expected to hit seven billion by 2012. Education for all is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. 

Professor Ralph Tabberer, Chief Schools Officer at GEMS – the world’s largest private provider of schools – and among the education experts speaking at the event, said: “It is barely 10 years since small groups of highly motivated academics and scientists got together – alone and initially unheard – to call for greater interest in global warming and green solutions; now there is no world leader who dare ignore these issues.  We need to make the same transformation in our thinking about education; a debate on how we put it top of the agenda for every government worldwide.”

Countless commentators have recently called for governments to meet their commitments toward education.  Warm words from the G8 in Italy this summer were not backed by immediate commitments or resources, and campaigners such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu maintain that a global fund for education is the only answer.

The Education Project seeks to address the issue by identifying practical solutions and gaining commitment from educational professionals to put them in place.  A key focus will be on encouraging commitment from both the private and public sector to adapt successful, proven and transferable models of innovation and success for wider roll-out by matching potential donors with projects seeking funding to enable real outcomes.  And on identifying a series of deliverables for action during the year ahead, to be taken into next year’s project and serve to propel education outcomes globally. 

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of the Bahrain EDB which is supporting the event explained: “Education is the single most important factor in bringing stability, productivity and prosperity to all societies.  But it is globally recognised that outcomes are poor compared to the investment made and that solutions need to be found and scaled for the widest possible implementation at a global level.  The Education Project aims to help address this issue.  We want delegates to leave equipped with the information and insights, commitments, partnerships and backing they need to enable them to make real changes.”

Professor Tabberer added: “The new global shortage is not in energy, nor in bankers willing to risk or invest, nor in green and sustainable options.  It is in education.  The problem is not falling standards, but rather escalating demand; of keeping up with the fundamental ambition of every family for their children.  In a recession, wise people invest.  And as we take in the lessons of the financial crisis it is crucial that we invest in education so that it is fit for a global age.”

Other confirmed speakers include Tony Wagner, Co-Director of the Change Leadership Group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and [insert speaker relevant to geographic media upon release and if relevant the model of innovation / success in which they are involved].

The Education Project is free to attend for education al professionals from all sectors as well as from public and private sector institutions with an interest in developing new models and standards in education.  For further information and to register for an invitation visit: www.educationprojectbahrain.org 

-ENDS-