The World’s Biggest Lesson

On 23 April 2008, teacher Rebecca Jones and her Year 5 pupils at Ysgol Gymraeg Rhyd y Grug joined thousands of other schools across the world, to take part in the world’s biggest lesson.

The World’s Biggest Lesson is an annual event organised by The Global Campaign for Education, part of their Send My Friend to School campaign.

Christian Aid proudly supports this initiative, bringing the cause of education for all into the thoughts of pupils, teachers, parents and politicians all across the world.

Global education

In the knowledge that thousands of children were simultaneously discussing the same issues, Rebecca’s pupils debated what makes a good education, developed an understanding of why some children miss out, and agreed what troubles these children might face.

‘It was really fun. I learnt a lot about children who suffer because they don’t get an education,’ says Poppy, 10.

The materials for structuring the lesson were provided online, and hard copies distributed free upon request.

Visitors from near and far

Christian Aid representative Eirian Samuel came to help out, along with Satheesh Periyapatna from The Deccan Development Society, a Christian Aid partner organisation from India.

They were also joined by Rhod Griffiths from Oxfam Cymru, making this a truly collaborative event, and allowing the children to discuss things in small groups.

Satheesh told the children about how different the Indian education system is from the one that they have.

‘It was interesting listening to Satheesh from India,’ Chloe, aged 10, says. ‘I learned a lot about children who don’t get an education and what happens to them.’

What’s on the menu?

The children got busy constructing ‘educational menus’, deciding what kind of education should be provided at different ages.

The ‘starter’ was made up of things learnt in nursery and preschool, the ‘main course’ was the early years of primary school, and the ‘dessert’ finished things off with the final years of primary teaching.

The class then came together to decide on an overall menu that represented what they had learned.

‘All in all, the children have learned not to take things for granted, especially when it comes to education,’ says a proud Rebecca Jones.

The lessons were taken much further than the school.

They were taken home by politicians too.

Photographs from the event were made into an exhibition at the Senedd (the Welsh Assembly).

Satheesh, Eirian Samuel, and Rhod Griffiths showed Jane Hutt, the Welsh Minister for Education, around the exhibition, and pressed her on the importance of these issues.

Over 20 members of the Welsh Assembly showed their support for the cause by adding their signatures to the chalkboard that accompanied the exhibition.

The future

The success was a credit to the efforts of Rebecca, and Satheesh, and thanks to Eirian and Rhod for their support.

But don’t worry if you missed out this year!

The World’s Biggest Lesson is an annual event, held every April, driving toward 2015, the year in which, if the Millennium Development Goals are to be accomplished, every child in the world will have a decent primary education.

Put it in your diaries, and check the website nearer the time for details and resources for the World’s Biggest Lesson 2009.

Lend your support for this important issue, and help your pupils to learn about education across the world!

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