The G8 (+20) and education

The G8 Leaders were joined by 20 other Heads of government and 10 Heads of international organizations when they met in L’Aquila, Italy last week (8-10 July). In recent years the G8 has invited other leaders for specific sessions, but this was a record number of non-G8 governments – a reflection of the multiple crises confronting the planet, and recognition that the major economies have to engage others.

The G8 dealt with wide range of issues: the financial crisis, climate change, food security, rising unemployment, trade, nuclear proliferation, among others – and adopted a declaration running to 40 pages – including a page on education.

Under the heading “Advancing towards education for all”, the G8 picked up EI’s key message: “Investing in education and skills development is crucial for a sustainable recovery from the current economic crisis and for long term development. We reaffirm the right to education for all”. They re-inserted a line from earlier communiqués (which had been omitted last year): “we reaffirm that no country seriously committed to EFA will be thwarted in the achievement of this goal by lack of resources.” Significantly, they welcomed “the creation of an international Task Force on “Teachers for EFA”, aiming to address the “teacher gap””.

But as the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) pointed out “despite warm words on education, [the G8] offers little in the way of immediate commitments and resources to education systems squeezed by the financial crisis” [Link: “G8 yet to make the grade” http://www.campaignforeducation.org/en/home/].

On unemployment, TUAC made a similar point: “the commitments on employment and social protection are positive, as is the more extensive role given to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the recognition of the relevance of the tripartite “Global Jobs Pact”. But there are no explicit commitments to making the necessary resources available for achieving employment and social protection goals” [Link: “L’Aquila G8 says ILO jobs pact has worldwide relevance – unions say this now requires resources” http://www.tuac.org/en/public/e-docs/00/00/05/17/document_news.phtml]. As TUAC said, the 40 page declaration covered a vast range of issues but failed to prioritise the actions needed to move out of the triple crisis of jobs, climate and development. “Attention must now turn to the G20 Pittsburgh Summit in September, which unions are demanding must be a Summit focused on jobs, reducing inequality and eradicating poverty”, say Global Unions.

Footnote: G8 2009 Chair Silvio Berlusconi of Italy omitted any references to education in his final communiqué – probably a reflection of his attitude to education at the national level.