Global Education and Skills Conference (GESF) to be Held Annually in the UAE Following the Inaugural Event and Will Become "The Davos of Education"

DUBAI, UAE, March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

- Global leaders urged to attend 2014 Forum to address the great crisis of the 21^st Century.

Speaking on the final day of the inaugural Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai where 500 delegates from 50 countries are discussing the global demand for better education, Founder and Chairman of GEMS Education, Sunny Varkey said:

"Based on the feedback from those that attended and contributed to the Forum we have decided that the Global Education and Skills Forum will become an annual event to be held in the UAE and our plan is to ensure that the Forum is regarded as the 'Davos of Education'. Education should be viewed as the most important issue globally because of the role it can play in alleviating some of the world's most pressing challenges. I would strongly urge Heads of State, policy makers, business leaders and NGOs to participate in the Forum in 2014 in order to focus on education for the sake of the world's children."

Internationally renowned commentator on global affairs, CNN's Dr. Fareed Zakaria, who delivered the keynote address, said of the conference: "I think having a meeting like this, a Forum like this to begin this process of really transforming education for the future so that it becomes something that is as innovative and as forward looking and as dynamic as so many of the other aspects of society going forward, is a tremendous advantage."

Earlier at the conference which, this year, focussed on public - private partnerships, former US President Bill Clinton said:

"It is projected that by 2050 that 86 per cent of the world's children will be living in what are now developing countries. There is no way that Governments alone or international aid flows alone will be able to provide those children with the quality of education they need to be full participants in global society. This is especially relevant for women and girls."

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said; "The future of education lies in partnerships. There is no reason to have strict demarcation between the public and private sector in education. Where countries are implementing public private partnerships they're succeeding." He was speaking at the inaugural Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai discussing how public private partnerships can solve the global demand for better education.

H.E Maria Kiwanuka, Ugandan Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development said:

"The private sector can provide the link to the marketplace where you find there is a revolving door. The link between Government, the private sector and academia is important. We need to have this constant cross-fertilisation between the three of us."

The Forum, jointly organized by UNESCO, The Commonwealth Business Council, The UAE Government and GEMS Education will examine ways to create real, sustainable and scalable change to education systems at global and local levels.

A particular focus was on developing an environment that supports effective public and private partnerships, including a regulatory framework that ensures access, quality, relevance and equity in education provision.

Around 67 million children do not have access to primary school education and another 72 million children miss out on secondary school education.

The Forum covered topics across the education sectors; including sessions on disruptive technologies, technical and vocational education and equity in education.

Attendees included E. Pierre Nkurunziza, President of Burundi, H.E. Maria Kiwanuka, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda, H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, H, H.E. Cirino Ofuho, Minister of Youth, H.E. Chilundo Arlindo, Deputy Minister of Education, Mozambique, South Sudan, H.E. Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State, UAE, Nick Fuller, Head of Education, Olympics 2012, UK, H.E. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of Human Resource Development, India and Lord Andrew Adonis, former Minister of State for Education, UK.

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For more information, please contact:
Margaret Flanagan / Rebecca Sageman
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Tel: +971-4-4507-600
Email: margaret.flanagan@bm.com / rebecca.sageman@bm.com