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Educational entrepreneur and philanthropist Sunny Varkey founded the first global representative body for the K-12 independent education sector, the Global Independent Schools Association (GISA).
Varkey is the founder of GEMS Education, which he launched as a call for greater knowledge sharing between independent sectors and governments to help improve education around the world. Crucially, GISA wants to be heard as a key partner in achieving SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030.
The global association seeks to coordinate, represent and give voice to the K-12 independent education sector worldwide – filling the “representation gap” in a sector that educates 350 million children worldwide, including 52% of secondary school students, children in South Asia and 45% in Latin America pupils.
Raise the standard
It aims to be the ‘caller’ voice of the independent education sector, demonstrating its impact and acting as a resource for governments and global institutions around the world to draw on, talk to and lean on in times of crisis. It will provide a forum for the sector to share the considerable knowledge and expertise it has accumulated within the independent sector. At the same time, it aims to work with policymakers and governments around the world to help raise standards in schools of all backgrounds, whether public, independent or third party.
Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills at the OECD, expressed support for the launch of GISA, saying: “It is important for the independent sector to raise its voice in the public interest. Tomorrow’s economy will be a ruthless future for those without a strong presence.” Education and skills. Unless the independent sector works with others – government, business, NGOs – to look at how to educate and build the skills of the new generation, valuable expertise will remain siled and solutions will be lost.”
Varkey, who also founded the Global Teacher Prize and is a signatory to the Giving Pledge, urgently convened leaders of the global independent education sector to form a new body after the United Nations General Assembly in September, and it became increasingly clear that the time had come. SDG 4 is up.
window of opportunity
Varkey said: “The window of opportunity to realize the promise to provide every child with the birthright to a quality education by 2030 is fast closing. So far there have been gaps in the representation of independent sectors globally and a lack of coordinated efforts in Finding solutions to this urgent crisis. GISA members will be as diverse as the communities they serve, providing front-line experiences in educating children of every possible income size, culture and border. GISA will also be an integral part of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 4. A true partner supporting policymakers and fostering collaboration among its members to continually innovate and transform education for the benefit of all. We will work with governments to help them achieve their educational and economic goals.”
For the first time, some of the world’s leaders in independent K-12 education have joined forces to form this new institution. The GISA Executive Committee, which will set its strategic direction, includes Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO, Nord Anglia Education; Varkey; Nadim Nsouli, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Inspired Education; Frank Masson; Cognita Group CEO; XCL Brian Rogove, CEO of Education Group; and Dino Varkey, CEO of GEMS Education. The association launched a call to action to attract members from around the world, whether they are single-class private schools in low-income countries, schools run by charities or foundations, or multinational chains.
Influential educational figures have also agreed to join GISA’s advisory board to help shape its strategy and direction. Members include Victoria Colbert, former Undersecretary of Education at Columbia University and Executive Director of the Nueva Escuela Foundation; Sir Anthony Shelton, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham; Professor Li Wei, Dean and Dean of the UCL Faculty of Education ; Vijay Kumar, Executive Director, Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab, MIT; Mercedes Mateo, Director of Education, Inter-American Development Bank; Dr. Siva Kumari, former Director-General of the International Baccalaureate Organization; Trevor Rowell, Chairman of the Council of British International Schools.
innovation center
“Independent schools are often centers of innovation in introducing new approaches, teaching styles and technologies,” said Fitzmaurice. GISA members can provide considerable insights and best practices that can be shared with public and private schools everywhere. From supporting teacher professional development to From important areas such as education to the latest application of instructional technology, we can have a greater impact on education through cooperation.”
Professor Li Wei, Dean and Dean of UCL’s School of Education and Society, said: “Education to achieve the SDGs is an imperative for individuals and societies around the world to support human prosperity and economic prosperity. We need to promote opportunities for all who seek to improve education Dialogue among all parties involved in education, experience and outcomes, sharing evidence and front-line experiences, with a single-minded pursuit of progress for all learners.”
Varkey added: “Despite educating 350 million children around the world, in schools as diverse as the communities they serve, insights from the independent education sector do not always carry the weight they should in global debates and government policy. impact. However, the sector has large numbers of students in developing countries and a wide range of front-line experience, from long-established institutions to low-cost schools in the poorest communities.”
share impact
According to the World Bank, 35% of children in LDCs (by UN classification) attend non-state schools and 18% attend schools in fragile and conflict-affected situations, and GISA is particularly keen to share the impact and innovations of these The school helps deliver quality education in areas of the world where it is most needed. GISA believes this is even more important as data shows that students globally are on average 8 months behind due to the pandemic (McKinsey, 2022).
GISA members will be able to share knowledge, co-create resources, and gain access to cutting-edge research and reports, innovative workshops, and prestigious events. GISA also aims to host an annual conference where governments, businesses, NGOs and leading thinkers will gather once a year for high-level discussions on how to accelerate the goal of quality education for all. — trade arab news agency
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