Launching of Education for All Global Monitoring Report (GMR) 2015, EFA 2015 National Review Bangladesh and Incheon Declaration
UNESCO Dhaka in cooperation with Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU) and Ministry of Education organized an event on 25 October 2015 to launch three major reports namely the Education for All Global Monitoring Report (EFA-GMR) 2015, EFA 2015 National Review Bangladesh and Incheon Declaration on Education 2030:Towards inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning .
In addition, a brochure summarizing the findings from the EFA 2015 National Review Bangladesh was shared with the participants. The event was attended by policy makers, educationists, teachers, and members from the civil society organizations, development partners, UN agencies and media.
The event was started with the welcome address made by Ms. Beatrice Kaldun, Head and Representative of UNESCO Dhaka Office. 
Ms Kaldun emphasized the significance and content of the three documents. She observed that education goals towards 2030 are well integrated in Goal 4 as well as other SDGs. So strategies need to be developed to achieve EFA in coordination and synergies with other goals and today’s dialogue is a first step towards that goal.
Key focus was the introduction of the two reports and Declaration. Focus of the EFA GMR was introduced outlining on progress made so far, challenges that lie ahead as well as some good examples with policy implications and lessons learnt to guide future reform with a global perspective. A comparison of international and Bangladesh progress or gaps was introduced as well by the speaker. The introduction of the National EFA 2015 Review which focuses on country level progress, challenges and way forward provided useful information on progress and status of the 6 EFA Goals.
The Honorable Minister Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid, MP, Ministry of Education was present as Chief Guest and appreciated the organizers for presenting the global and national level situation related to EFA goals. He mentioned that GMR 2015 is a significant tool for countries and stakeholders to assess the EFA initiatives and the national review will help to plan the future education steps towards achieving SDG4 by 2030. He congratulated MOPME for their remarkable success in terms of enrollment and gender parity in primary education. However, he added, a lot more needs to be done to achieving quality learning.
Mr. Mesbah Ul Alam, Secretary MOPME appreciated both the reports and said it was time to accelerate the planning process towards SDGs. He also underlined the need to implement policies to achieve better learning outcome as we shift from MDGs to SDGs. Better collaboration among government agencies, educationists, educational institutions, civil society organizations, community and development partners including UN agencies is essential.
Mr Nazrul Islam Khan, Secretary, MOE, made reference to the financing in education which would be 3% of GDP by 2020 and by 2030 it would reach the target suggested in the Incheon Declaration in May 2015.
Snapshot of EFA GMR findings
• There are 84 million fewer out-of- school children and adolescents and 52 million of these are girls·
• 34 million more children have gone to school due to intensive efforts of EFA movement·
• Two-thirds more children are enrolled in pre-primary education
Yet despite these efforts, only a third of countries reached all of the EFA goals with measurable targets: ensuring universal primary education, reducing adult illiteracy by 50%, and achieving gender parity in both primary and secondary education.
Snapshot of EFA 2015 National Report
• Bangladesh made good efforts in achieving MDGs and EFA related to attainment of gender parity in primary and secondary school enrolment.
• Net primary enrolment rate is 99%, gross rate 115 %, gender parity index 1.06 and adult literacy rate 68%.
Yet, the large size of the system and its rapid expansion pose dilemmas-
• Putting sufficient focus and achieving results on quality
• Investing enough to achieve the quality and equity goals
• Governance reforms to make system more accountable.
Incheon Declaration
• Representatives from 160 countries and 120 ministers participated in the World Education Forum 2030 held in Korea and adopted the Incheon Declaration for implementation of Education 2030: Towards Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Lifelong Learning for All.
<- Back to: UNESCO Office in Dhaka