2004 Launch of CGCE & Learning Forum

April 25, 2004 / University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.

CGCE Launch

On the evening of April 25, representatives from civil society organizations gathered at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT) to officially launch the Canadian Global Campaign for Education Alliance.

Invited speakers included a founding member of the Canadian GCE, school children, Members of Parliament, a representative from the African Coalition on Education for All (ANCEFA) and an executive board member from Education International.

Highlights: 

• Introduction by Dr. Karen Mundy,

• In her remarks, Canada’s Minister of International Cooperation, the Honourable Aileen Carroll, made an announcement of CIDA’s $24 million pledge to support two new basic education initiatives in Nicaragua and Kenya.

• The Honourable Tony Ianno, Minister of State (Families and Caregivers) received cut outs "friends" from school children.

Learning Forum

On April 26, CGCE held a day-long forum at the Munk Centre for International Studies in Toronto on the role of civil society (in Canada and internationally) in the achievement of EFA, the 2nd Millennium Development Goal. The programme encompassed an overall aim to encourage cooperative action on the part of Canadian civil society and to build a lasting coalition that can hold the Canadian government to its EFA promises.

Morning Plenary

• Nick Burnett, Director of the Global Monitoring Report on Education for All, provided an overview of the EFA Challenge
• Christophe Zoungrana from ANCEFA spoke of civil society's role in EFA.

Morning Sessions

Delegates then attended thematic sessions on EFA:

• Session 1, Reforming Bilateral AID ( CIDA Presentation of Fast Track Initiative );
• Session 2, New Roles for Civil Society in the South;
• Session 3, HIV/AIDS and Education, Education in Emergency and Post Conflict Situations, Getting Girls in School.

Afternoon Plenary

• Discussion paper, and PowerPoint Slides by Dr. Karen Mundy, founding member of the Canadian GCE and Canada Research Chair, University of Toronto.

Afternoon Working Groups

• Group A: A New Framework for Working with CIDA – First Steps (Notes / Audio);
• Group B, Key Priorities for EFA Advocacy, Research and Development Education on the Right to Education within Canada (Notes / Audio);
• Group C, Innovations in North-South Civil Society Partnerships – Ways Forward (Notes / Audio);
• Group D, Concrete Steps towards Building Information Sharing and Coordination among Canadian NGOs, Citizens Groups, Unions, Churches, Research Organisations and Others (Notes / Audio).

Final Plenary.

Additional Information

• Background Paper for the Canadian Global Campaign for Education Forum.