Notícias
INTERNATIONAL
MEC opens 2024 Global Education Meeting (GEM)
The Global Education Meeting (GEM), organized by Brazil’s Ministry of Education [Ministério da Educação/MEC] and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), begins this Thursday, October 31. The meeting is one of the activities of the Ceará Week: Global Education Center which will take place until November 2 at the Centro de Eventos do Ceará, in Fortaleza (CE).
The activities planned for the first day of the meeting include a presentation of the G20 results by the Minister of Education of Brazil, Camilo Santana; a panel discussion with student and teacher representatives; a debate on the 2024 edition of the UNESCO report that monitors the global state of education (GEM Report); and the first sessions to review progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education, and promote learning opportunities for every person throughout life.
This is the first time the Global Education Meeting is being held outside of Europe. Previous editions were held in Paris and Brussels. The state of Ceará was chosen because it is a reference in quality education policy. "This is the first time this meeting is happening in a country from the Global South, and we are very proud of it. The great diversity of countries and representatives increases the relevance of this meeting and the message it sends to the world. We have carried out several projects in recent days that have placed financing equity and education at the center of the debate," stated Santana. The Pé-de-Meia — a program by the Federal Government that creates a savings account for low-income high school students from public schools — was highlighted as a good practice in the two dimensions highlighted at the meeting.
"We want to ensure quality public education for all, ensuring that no youth is out of school. In these almost two years, this administration has focused on creating policies that work to achieve this goal, such as the National Pact for Literacy at the Right Age [Pacto Nacional pela Alfabetização da Idade Certa], the National Commitment to Child Literacy [Compromisso Nacional Criança Alfabetizada], and the Pé-de-Meia Program. To continue with these improvements, we need dialogs like those promoted at this meeting,” the minister added.
Education is more than a strategic objective; it is in fact the main path to building a just world and a sustainable planet. The choice of Brazil and Ceará to host this event represents a clear example of how inclusive education policies, focused on basic education, can reverse inequalities and transform communities.
According to Stefania Giannini, UNESCO’s Deputy Director-General for Education, the debates over the next few days will focus on equity and inclusion, “which are the foundation of all progress and social development”. “UNESCO data demonstrate that, since 2015, 110 million youth have been enrolled in schools. However, the same research indicates that around 250 million children and adolescents still do not attend school, which is a major problem. Education is a non-negotiable human right and we need to encourage strong measures to increase and share its funding.”
Guests – All 194 UNESCO member countries were invited to GEM, along with representatives of students, education workers, civil society organizations, academics, and other international stakeholders. Organizers esteem that around 600 people will gather at the Centro de Eventos do Ceará on October 31 and November 1.
G20 Education WG – The GEM takes place right after the G20 Education Working Group and the Ministerial meetings, held as activities of the Ceará Week: Global Center for Education between October 29 and 31.
Event Information
Global Education Meeting (GEM)
Opening of the Global Education Meeting (GEM) and launch of the GEM Report
Date: October 31, 2024 (Thursday)
Time: 8:30 am to 11:30 am (Brasília time)
Venue: Centro de Eventos do Ceará
Address: Av. Washington Soares, 999, Edson Queiroz, Fortaleza
Broadcast: MEC YouTube Channel
Journalists will be granted access upon accreditation completed by October 23
Coverage of the G20 ministers' lunch in honor of school meals
Date: October 31, 2024 (Thursday)
Time: From 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Brasília time)
Location: Escola Estadual de Educação Profissional (EEEP) Jaime Alencar de Oliveira
Address: Av. Rogaciano Leite, 2285, Eng. Luciano Cavalcante, Fortaleza
Journalists will be granted access upon accreditation. Photographers and camera operators will have access to the school cafeteria at the beginning of lunch.
MEC Social Communications Office, with information from the International Advisory Office