The Remarkable Impact of Educators on Celebrities’ Lives

Written by Inja van Soest

In the world of fame and glamour, there’s often an untold story of deep gratitude for teachers. One such heartwarming moment unfolded during Adele’s concert special, “An Audience with Adele,” in 2021, in which the audience witnessed the profound impact of a year eight teacher on an internationally known singer and songwriter.

Amidst the performance, Emma Thompson, an actress herself, posed a simple yet profound question to Adele. She asked whether Adele had anyone who had been truly inspiring and supportive in her youth. Adele’s response was spontaneous and filled with genuine warmth. With a hint of nostalgia in her voice, Adele shared her high school English teacher, Miss McDonald, with the audience. “It was just one year, but she got me really into literature. Like, I’ve always been obsessed with English, and obviously now I write lyrics,” Adele revealed. She also confessed that whilst Miss McDonald taught street dance, Adele was too shy to join her course. What stood out in Adele’s recollection was Miss McDonald’s unique charm. “She was so bloody cool. So engaging. She really made us care, and we knew that she cared about us.” What seemed to have left an impression was how she used to dress, with gold bracelets and sequins, with her appreciation for her teacher being tangible in her voice and her very British way of speaking about her teacher, with warmth but the typical directness and an amount of hard truth being tangible.

As Emma Thompson continued the conversation, the audience erupted in cheers. Adele, tears of joy streaming down her face, broke into a radiant smile as she realised her beloved teacher, Miss McDonald, was present. In a touching moment, teacher and student embraced, and Adele publicly acknowledged how Miss McDonald had “changed her life.”

Adele’s story of teacher appreciation is not the only one that has been shared. In 2017, John Legend wrote an article for the Huffington Post, expressing hope for future generations due to the incredible educators who influenced his life. He paid tribute to his English teacher, Mrs Bodey, saying, “Until her class, I hadn’t believed in my ability as a writer. She recognised my potential and showed me that I could write with creativity, clarity, and passion.” Legend credited teachers like Mrs. Bodey for instilling the confidence to chase his dreams.

kyle tsui from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Dr Maya Angelou, the literary icon, once spoke reverently about her neighbour and teacher, Bertha Flowers. Angelou attested that Flowers remained a guiding light throughout her life, symbolising the kindness and grace that humanity could embody.

The influence of teachers extends far beyond music and literature. Numerous actors, musicians, writers, artists, and world leaders have testified to the profound impact of their educators.

Take Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a globally respected democratic politician known for her direct and evidence-based political approach. In 2020, she received a heartfelt message from a teacher on Twitter, prompting her to express gratitude for her unwavering support and belief in her during her formative years.


nrkbeta, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Teachers play a pivotal role in the lives of young people, shaping how they view themselves, learn, and engage with the world. Teachers possess the extraordinary ability to make students feel seen and valued, nurturing a sense of purpose and direction.

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day, let’s take a moment to reflect on the teachers who have left a lasting mark on our lives and the countless others who have ignited greatness in the world’s most celebrated individuals. Teachers are the unsung heroes shaping the future, one student at a time, leaving behind a lasting legacy of knowledge, compassion, and empowerment.

Today, we honour and thank the educators who have illuminated our paths toward wisdom and a better, fairer and more inclusive future.

October 5: World Teachers’ Day

The theme for World Teachers’ Day 2023:

“ The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage.”

Every year, World Teachers’ Day on October 5 reminds us how vital the role of teachers is for quality education for all.

It commemorates the 1966 signing of the International Labour Organization (ILO)-United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers setting international standards for treating teachers, including recruitment, training, continuing education, and labour conditions.

Nowadays, the circumstances are challenging for teachers all over the world. For this reason, UNESCO and Education International have declared the theme for this year: “The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortage.” 

Actually:

  • 55% of teachers now expect to leave the profession earlier than they had planned,
  • 35% expect to quit in the next two years,
  • 78% of educators say that low pay is a serious issue,
  • 84% of teachers spend their own money on basic classroom supplies 
  • 45% of teachers say they do not feel respected by the public 
  • 42% of teachers said their teaching suffered due to the state of their mental health. 
  • Only 10% of teachers would strongly recommend the profession to a young adult.  

However, the role of teacher is still essential, as:

  • The average teacher affects over 3,000 students during their career.
  • 54% of students say a teacher has helped them in a difficult situation.
  • 75% of students say teachers are mentors and role models.
  • 83% of students say a teacher has boosted their self-esteem and confidence.
  • 79% of students say a teacher has encouraged them to follow their dreams. 

Now is the time to recognize the contribution of teachers, as they play a significant role in the future generation of society.

Now is the time to reimagine education and achieve our goals for equal access to all.

As Broken Chalk, we believe teachers should work with their students on this important day. Teachers have dedicated themselves to their work and continue to educate people, contributing to society and humanity wherever they live. Unfortunately, some are no longer with us due to poor government practices, armed groups, and mass shootings. We advocate the rights of teachers through the national and international judiciary and wish to draw the attention of governments, stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, and human rights defenders in the fight against the human rights violations educators face.

We wish all the teachers in the world a happy World Teachers’ Day!

Broken Chalk announces it to the public with due respect.

Signed by

Broken Chalk

Educators of Excellence https://e4e.org/sites/default/files/2022voicesfromtheclassroom_digital.pdf

Adopt a Classroom https://www.adoptaclassroom.org/2023/06/07/do-teachers-need-to-buy-their-own-supplies-in-2023/?gclid=CjwKCAjwv8qkBhAnEiwAkY-ahrbGH-yYT-XWm_8SCbC8n-CFl7jJOrBQmrsz2sKIp1bTG4TIwlA50RoChoAQAvD_BwE

Education Week https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teachers-are-stressed-and-disrespected-but-happier-than-last-year-7-takeaways-from-new-poll/2023/05

Education Week https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teachers-are-stressed-and-disrespected-but-happier-than-last-year-7-takeaways-from-new-poll/2023/05

MDR Education https://mdreducation.com/reports/educator-perspectives-2022/

https://www.weareteachers.com/teacher-impact-statistics/

https://www.weareteachers.com/world-teachers-day/

Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 1st and 15th of August, 2023

Broken Chalk proudly presents the tenth edition of “Education Monitor: Around the Globe” between the 1st and 15th of August, 2023. Broken Chalk aims with this letter to increase public awareness of  Educational problems, challenges, and violations in the scope of the world. This newsletter is unique. This is a weekly newsletter in which we attempt to monitor and convey educational news from around the world in a concise manner. This monitor will be published biweekly with the effort of our young and enthusiastic team.

You can contribute to our work if you like. If you witness any violations in the scope of education, you can write the comment part of this post. Broken Chalk will try to address the issue in its next monitor edition.

To Download it as pdf : Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 1st and 15th of August, 2023

Broken Chalk Platform, in March 2019, was founded by a group of educators abroad who experienced and have been experiencing severe human rights violations in Turkey and had to ask for asylum currently in several countries.

These education volunteers also suffered greatly and started their new lives in their new countries without human rights violations. They gained respect just because they were considered human beings in those countries. However, they left one part of their minds and hearts in their homeland. They assigned themselves a new duty, and the human rights violations they left behind had to be announced to the World. A group of education volunteers who came together for this purpose started their activities under the Broken Chalk platform’s umbrella. However, the Broken Chalk platform was not enough to serve their aims. Therefore, they completed their official establishment as a Human Rights Foundation in October 2020.

Broken Chalk is now much more than a platform, and we have reviewed and enlarged our vision and mission within this framework. Violations of rights would be the first in our agenda in the field of Education all over the World. At the point we reached today, Broken Chalk opened its door to all individuals from all across the globe, from all professions, and to all individuals who say or can say ‘I also want to stand against violations of human rights in Education for our future and whole humanity, where our generations grow up together.’

Education is essential because it can help us eliminate the evils from society, introduce, and increase the good. We want to draw the public’s and stakeholders’ attention to the fact that Education is in danger in several different parts of the World. The attacks are wide-reaching, from the bombing of schools to the murder of students and teachers. Raping and sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, and forced recruitment also occurred, instigated by armed groups. Attacks on Education harm the students and teachers but also affect the communities in the short and long term.

We invite all individuals who want to stop human rights violations in Education to become Volunteers at Broken Chalk.

Educational Challenges in Moldova

Written by Aurelia Bejenari

A small country located between Romania and Ukraine, one of the poorest countries in Europe that in its three decades of independence has been troubled by corruption, oligarchy, and polarization, the Republic of Moldova has been generally ignored, or at least overlooked on an international scale. YouTube videos by travel bloggers attempting to sensationalize the destination bear titles such as “Nobody Visits This Country … Find Out Why”, “Travelling to the “Worst” Country in Europe”, and “Travelling to the Country Everyone is Trying to Leave”. This has been the case until the war in Ukraine has effectively put Moldova on the map, garnering international audiences’ attention. 

The conflict across the border has forced Moldova to think about its own security and potential threats to the country. Many have speculated that Moldova could be the next one to fall under Russian attack, in a sort of twisted, imperialistic domino reaction. And while this prediction has not been proven accurate thus far, Moldova has undoubtedly been shaken up by the war, with its economy being strongly affected and internal conflicts brewing. This destabilized situation challenged all aspects of society, including education, which was already in a troubled state and left a lot to be desired.

Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash

Historical Background

The history of education, and especially higher education, in the Republic of Moldova is relatively young. In 1918, Bessarabia (the region corresponding, for the most part, with Moldova’s present-day territory) became part of Greater Romania. And while all the newly integrated regions showcased widely different levels of general schooling and literacy rates, Bessarabia displayed the lowest levels, despite the efforts to create and expand an elementary public school system at the end of the 19th century during the tsarist administration.

Romanian political elites directed their efforts towards national integration and cultural unification, including the decolonization and “Romanianization” of schools. This had a negative effect on the schooling of ethnic minorities, who accounted for more than

one-quarter of the general population, as Romanian authorities were concerned with the ethnic heterogeneity of Romanian society and often suspected ethnic minorities of subversion and disloyalty.

After 28 June 1940, Bessarabia became part of the Soviet Union. It was during the Soviet period that the bulk of Moldova’s development in education occurred. The contents of the courses, study programs, teaching methods, and recruitment policies were directly replicated from the already existing Soviet republics. The lack of academic traditions prior to the Soviet period facilitated this process. Professors and scientists immigrated from other Soviet republics, particularly Russia and Ukraine, which, on the one hand, raised the educational levels while, on the other hand, it has promoted the use of the Russian language, which

became the predominant language of education. 

The Republic of Moldova declared its independence on 27 August 1991, marking the beginning of radical political, economic, and social changes which required the educational system to adapt. This was met by a series of challenges and barriers that continue to exist, despite Moldova’s efforts and the educational reforms it has implemented since its independence.

Educational Challenges

In Moldova, more than half of students are only partially competent in reading, mathematics, or science. Moldovan students are lagging behind their peers in neighbouring countries. The results of the PISA 2018 survey show the following:

  • 57% of Moldovan students attained at least Level 2 proficiency in reading (OECD average: 77%)
  • 1% of students in Moldova were top performers in reading (OECD average: 9%)
  • 50% of students in Moldova attained Level 2 or higher in mathematics (OECD average: 76%)
  • 2% of students scored at Level 5 or higher in mathematics (OECD average: 11%)
  • 57% of students in Moldova attained Level 2 or higher in science (OECD average: 78%)
  • 1% of students were top performers in science (OECD average: 7%).

While school attendance rates in both primary and secondary education are high, children from rural spaces are more likely than others to be out of the classroom. This generally happens so children can carry out domestic work and assume responsibilities within

the household. The attendance rates of Roma children are much lower at all educational levels, as some of these children are never enrolled, are enrolled much later than they should have been, or drop out. Furthermore, only 20 per cent of Roma children attend a preschool compared to 80 per cent of non-Roma children.

Socio-economically advantaged students outperformed disadvantaged students in reading

by 102 score points in PISA 2018, which is a larger gap than the average difference between the two groups (89 score points) across OECD countries. Many students, especially disadvantaged ones, hold lower ambitions than would be expected given their academic achievement, with one in three disadvantaged students and one in ten advantaged students expecting to not complete tertiary education. 

Social norms and stereotypical gender roles heavily influence education and further professional attainments. For instance, dropout rates are higher among boys than girls, possibly due to the fact that men and boys see their gender role as breadwinners and economic providers. While, in general, the gender gap in education is relatively small, educational attainment among Roma women remains low. Last but not least, influenced by gender roles and societal pressure, girls tend to choose specializations related to liberal arts subjects (philology, political science, social sciences, social assistance, etc.), which are usually less well-paid.

Another issue is the situation of students with disabilities, who continue to face exclusion. Most educational institutions in Moldova are not adapted to meet inclusive education standards. There is a lack of accessible school buildings and facilities, a lack of training on

inclusive education for teachers and staff, as well as social barriers in the form of negative stereotypes and prejudices against people with disabilities. 

Additionally, many schools in Moldova lack basic structures, such as sanitary blocks. For instance, especially in villages, toilets are usually located outside the building and lack the necessary hygienic, safe, and/or gender-sensitive conditions.

The Moldovan educational system also suffers from a severe staff shortage. 43% of students enrolled in a disadvantaged school and 28% of students enrolled in an advantaged school attend a school whose principal reported that the capacity of the school to provide instruction is hindered, at least to some extent, by a lack of teaching staff. Only up to a quarter of pedagogy graduates chose to pursue a career in education. Low salaries and not wanting to move to a rural area, where shortages are most acute, are some of the main reasons for this.

Children attend class in a school in Beslan. Photo by the United Nations Development Programme in Europe.

COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the discrepancies and inequalities between advantaged and disadvantaged student groups. With internet penetration in Moldova standing around 79.9% in 2019 (considerably lower than the EU penetration rate of 90% in 2019), approximately 16,000 students (4.8% of total) and 3000 teachers (10.6% of total) without access to ICT technology (laptop, tablet or access to internet) were left without any ability to deliver or receive instruction. The most affected categories were those in rural areas, families

with lower levels of education, and households with a low-income level. A lack of adequate

equipment, like a computer or connection to the internet, and high illiteracy rates among parents created additional obstacles to benefiting from distance learning for Roma children. Children with disabilities also faced additional challenges, as it proved more difficult to provide the support they need for learning remotely.

Education and the War Across the Border 

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moldova and Poland have received the highest number of refugees compared to its population size. The sudden arrival of Ukrainian refugees has placed tremendous pressure on the Moldovan educational system to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of children seeking an education. In response to the influx of refugees, the Ministry of Education and Research has implemented regulations allowing the inclusion and integration of refugees into the national education system. However, this open refugee policy has further strained an already fragile educational system. Enormous educational needs are overstretching and straining the educational capacity of the country, given the shortage of teachers, the language barriers, the demand for mental health help and resources, etc.

Conclusion

Moldova, a small and often overlooked European country, has been pushed into the spotlight by the conflict across its border. The country faces significant educational challenges. More than half of its students struggle with basic skills like reading, math, and science, falling behind neighbouring countries. Inequality is a concern, children from rural communities and ethnic minorities missing out on education, and disadvantaged students facing lower expectations. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated the situation, exposing the digital divide. At present, the conflict in Ukraine has brought an influx of refugees, putting more strain on Moldova’s already fragile education system.

Moldova finds itself at a crossroads regarding its future and the future of its education system, as the two are inherently intertwined.  Without a well-educated and skilled workforce, Moldova’s future as a nation looks grim. Unless the disparities between urban and rural areas, as well as the marginalization of certain minority groups, are addressed, the country risks perpetuating a cycle of poverty and exclusion that could hinder social cohesion and stability.

The Republic of Moldova is currently facing daunting challenges, to be sure. Still, with determination and cooperation, it is at least within its power as a state to build a resilient education system that would unlock the potential of its youth so they may build a brighter future.

References
  1. Bald and bankrupt (2019). Nobody Visits This Country…Find Out Why. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnDxHTaeNX0&list=PLqWdYjn21PdEO19u10zTJCrNazOKq6gf6&index=2
  2. Bischof, L. and Tofan, A. (2018). “Moldova: Institutions Under Stress—The Past, the Present and the Future of Moldova’s Higher Education System”. In: Huisman, J., Smolentseva, A. and Froumin, I. (eds) 25 Years of Transformations of Higher Education Systems in Post-Soviet Countries. Reform and Continuity, 311-337. London: Palgrave Macmillan. 
  3. Education Cannot Wait – Moldova. ECW in Moldova. Available at: https://www.educationcannotwait.org/our-investments/where-we-work/moldova. Consulted on July 24 2023.
  4. Matt and Julia (2022). Traveling to the Country Everyone is Trying to Leave. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrc1ihZ4Iac&t=711s
  5. Negură, P. (2018). “Ce lecții tragem din școlarizarea minorităților din Basarabia interbelică ?”. In: Cioroianu, A. (ed.) Un Centenar și mai multe teme pentru acasă, 105-116. Iași: POLIROM.
  6. Negură, P. and Cușco, A. (2021). “Public Education in Romania and Moldova, 19-20th Centuries: Modernization, Political Mobilization, and Nation-Building. An Introduction.”, Plural. History, Culture, Society, 9(1): 5-10.
  7. OECD – Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Results from Pisa 2018. Country Note. Moldova. Available at: https://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=MDA&treshold=10&topic=PI. Consulted on July 24 2023.
  8. UN (2020). “Education and COVID-19 in the Republic of Moldova: Grasping the opportunity the learning crisis presents to build a more resilient education system”. 
  9. UNFPA (2022). “Moldova lags behind in achieving gender equality in all spheres of life according to the UN Moldova Country Gender Assessment” Available at: https://moldova.unfpa.org/en/news/moldova-lags-behind-achieving-gender-equality-all-spheres-life-according-un-moldova-country. Consulted on July 24 2023. 
  10. UNICEF – Moldova. Education. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/moldova/en/what-we-do/education. Consulted on July 24 2023.
  11. Yes Theory (2022). Traveling to the “Worst” Country in Europe. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T2Avd3tFHc

Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 16th and 31st of July, 2023

Broken Chalk proudly presents the nineth edition of “Education Monitor: Around the Globe” between the 16th and 31st of July, 2023. Broken Chalk aims with this letter to increase public awareness of  Educational problems, challenges, and violations in the scope of the world. This newsletter is unique. This is a weekly newsletter in which we attempt to monitor and convey educational news from around the world in a concise manner. This monitor will be published biweekly with the effort of our young and enthusiastic team.

You can contribute to our work if you like. If you witness any violations in the scope of education, you can write the comment part of this post. Broken Chalk will try to address the issue in its next monitor edition.

To Download it as pdf : Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 1st and 15th of June, 2023

Broken Chalk Platform, in March 2019, was founded by a group of educators abroad who experienced and have been experiencing severe human rights violations in Turkey and had to ask for asylum currently in several countries.

These education volunteers also suffered greatly and started their new lives in their new countries without human rights violations. They gained respect just because they were considered human beings in those countries. However, they left one part of their minds and hearts in their homeland. They assigned themselves a new duty, and the human rights violations they left behind had to be announced to the World. A group of education volunteers who came together for this purpose started their activities under the Broken Chalk platform’s umbrella. However, the Broken Chalk platform was not enough to serve their aims. Therefore, they completed their official establishment as a Human Rights Foundation in October 2020.

Broken Chalk is now much more than a platform, and we have reviewed and enlarged our vision and mission within this framework. Violations of rights would be the first in our agenda in the field of Education all over the World. At the point we reached today, Broken Chalk opened its door to all individuals from all across the globe, from all professions, and to all individuals who say or can say ‘I also want to stand against violations of human rights in Education for our future and whole humanity, where our generations grow up together.’

Education is essential because it can help us eliminate the evils from society, introduce, and increase the good. We want to draw the public’s and stakeholders’ attention to the fact that Education is in danger in several different parts of the World. The attacks are wide-reaching, from the bombing of schools to the murder of students and teachers. Raping and sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, and forced recruitment also occurred, instigated by armed groups. Attacks on Education harm the students and teachers but also affect the communities in the short and long term.

We invite all individuals who want to stop human rights violations in Education to become Volunteers at Broken Chalk.

Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 1st and 15th of July, 2023

Broken Chalk proudly presents the eighth edition of “Education Monitor: Around the Globe” between the 1st and 15th of June, 2023. Broken Chalk aims with this letter to increase public awareness of  Educational problems, challenges, and violations in the scope of the world. This newsletter is unique. This is a weekly newsletter in which we attempt to monitor and convey educational news from around the world in a concise manner. This monitor will be published biweekly with the effort of our young and enthusiastic team.

You can contribute to our work if you like. If you witness any violations in the scope of education, you can write the comment part of this post. Broken Chalk will try to address the issue in its next monitor edition.

To Download it as pdf : Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 1st and 15th of June, 2023

Broken Chalk Platform, in March 2019, was founded by a group of educators abroad who experienced and have been experiencing severe human rights violations in Turkey and had to ask for asylum currently in several countries.

These education volunteers also suffered greatly and started their new lives in their new countries without human rights violations. They gained respect just because they were considered human beings in those countries. However, they left one part of their minds and hearts in their homeland. They assigned themselves a new duty, and the human rights violations they left behind had to be announced to the World. A group of education volunteers who came together for this purpose started their activities under the Broken Chalk platform’s umbrella. However, the Broken Chalk platform was not enough to serve their aims. Therefore, they completed their official establishment as a Human Rights Foundation in October 2020.

Broken Chalk is now much more than a platform, and we have reviewed and enlarged our vision and mission within this framework. Violations of rights would be the first in our agenda in the field of Education all over the World. At the point we reached today, Broken Chalk opened its door to all individuals from all across the globe, from all professions, and to all individuals who say or can say ‘I also want to stand against violations of human rights in Education for our future and whole humanity, where our generations grow up together.’

Education is essential because it can help us eliminate the evils from society, introduce, and increase the good. We want to draw the public’s and stakeholders’ attention to the fact that Education is in danger in several different parts of the World. The attacks are wide-reaching, from the bombing of schools to the murder of students and teachers. Raping and sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, and forced recruitment also occurred, instigated by armed groups. Attacks on Education harm the students and teachers but also affect the communities in the short and long term.

We invite all individuals who want to stop human rights violations in Education to become Volunteers at Broken Chalk.

Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 16th and 30th of June, 2023

Broken Chalk proudly presents the seventh edition of “Education Monitor: Around the Globe” between the 16th and 30th of June, 2023. Broken Chalk aims with this letter to increase public awareness of  Educational problems, challenges, and violations in the scope of the world. This newsletter is unique. This is a weekly newsletter in which we attempt to monitor and convey educational news from around the world in a concise manner. This monitor will be published biweekly with the effort of our young and enthusiastic team.
You can contribute to our work if you like. If you witness any violations in the scope of education, you can write the comment part of this post. Broken Chalk will try to address the issue in its next monitor edition.

To Download it as pdf: Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 1st and 15th of June, 2023

Broken Chalk Platform, in March 2019, was founded by a group of educators abroad who experienced and have been experiencing severe human rights violations in Turkey and had to ask for asylum currently in several countries.

These education volunteers also suffered greatly and started their new lives in their new countries without human rights violations. They gained respect just because they were considered human beings in those countries. However, they left one part of their minds and hearts in their homeland. They assigned themselves a new duty, and the human rights violations they left behind had to be announced to the World. A group of education volunteers who came together for this purpose started their activities under the Broken Chalk platform’s umbrella. However, the Broken Chalk platform was not enough to serve their aims. Therefore, they completed their official establishment as a Human Rights Foundation in October 2020.

Broken Chalk is now much more than a platform, and we have reviewed and enlarged our vision and mission within this framework. Violations of rights would be the first in our agenda in the field of Education all over the World. At the point we reached today, Broken Chalk opened its door to all individuals from all across the globe, from all professions, and to all individuals who say or can say ‘I also want to stand against violations of human rights in Education for our future and whole humanity, where our generations grow up together.’

Education is essential because it can help us eliminate the evils from society, introduce, and increase the good. We want to draw the public’s and stakeholders’ attention to the fact that Education is in danger in several different parts of the World. The attacks are wide-reaching, from the bombing of schools to the murder of students and teachers. Raping and sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, and forced recruitment also occurred, instigated by armed groups. Attacks on Education harm the students and teachers but also affect the communities in the short and long term.

We invite all individuals who want to stop human rights violations in Education to become Volunteers at Broken Chalk.

Universal Periodic Review of Monaco

  • Broken Chalk has drafted the following report as a stakeholder contribution to the 4th cycle of the 45th session of the Universal Periodic Review [UPR]. As Broken Chalk’s primary focus as an organisation is to combat human rights violations within the educational sphere, this report and the following recommendations will be related to the Right to Education.
  • During the previous Cycle of the UPR, Monaco has supported 72 out of 113 received recommendations, noted 35, and has not expressed its position on six other recommendations. Five suggestions are directly concerned with the Right to Education, and Monaco has supported all of them. Recommendation 76.31 urges Monaco to take action to ensure equal access to education. Recommendation 76.34 advocates for strengthening access to education at all levels for girls and young women. Recommendation 76.35 refers to integrating deaf-mute and visually impaired persons and their specific needs into the Monegasque educational system. Last but not least, recommendations 76.32 and 76.33 advise Monaco to take further legal measures to strengthen the right to education for children who are not Monegasque citizens and to guarantee access to education for all children, irrespective of their nationality.
  • The Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Carole Lanteri, has expressed deep commitment and attachment to the promotion and protection of human rights and the Universal Periodic Review and has noted equal access to education and care for all children who live in Monaco, without any discrimination based on gender or age.

By Aurelia Bejenari

Download the PDF

45th_Session_UN-UPR_Country_Review_Monaco

Cover image by WallpaperFlare

Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 1st and 15th of June, 2023

Broken Chalk proudly presents the sixth edition of “Education Monitor: Around the Globe” between the 1st and 15th of June, 2023. Broken Chalk aims with this letter to increase public awareness of  Educational problems, challenges, and violations in the scope of the world. This newsletter is unique. This is a weekly newsletter in which we attempt to monitor and convey educational news from around the world in a concise manner. This monitor will be published biweekly with the effort of our young and enthusiastic team. You can contribute to our work if you like. If you witness any violations in the scope of education, you can write the comment part of this post. Broken Chalk will try to address the issue in its next monitor edition. To Download it as pdf : Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 1st and 15th of June, 2023

Broken Chalk Platform, in March 2019, was founded by a group of educators abroad who experienced and have been experiencing severe human rights violations in Turkey and had to ask for asylum currently in several countries.

These education volunteers also suffered greatly and started their new lives in their new countries without human rights violations. They gained respect just because they were considered human beings in those countries. However, they left one part of their minds and hearts in their homeland. They assigned themselves a new duty, and the human rights violations they left behind had to be announced to the World. A group of education volunteers who came together for this purpose started their activities under the Broken Chalk platform’s umbrella. However, the Broken Chalk platform was not enough to serve their aims. Therefore, they completed their official establishment as a Human Rights Foundation in October 2020.

Broken Chalk is now much more than a platform, and we have reviewed and enlarged our vision and mission within this framework. Violations of rights would be the first in our agenda in the field of Education all over the World. At the point we reached today, Broken Chalk opened its door to all individuals from all across the globe, from all professions, and to all individuals who say or can say ‘I also want to stand against violations of human rights in Education for our future and whole humanity, where our generations grow up together.’

Education is essential because it can help us eliminate the evils from society, introduce, and increase the good. We want to draw the public’s and stakeholders’ attention to the fact that Education is in danger in several different parts of the World. The attacks are wide-reaching, from the bombing of schools to the murder of students and teachers. Raping and sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, and forced recruitment also occurred, instigated by armed groups. Attacks on Education harm the students and teachers but also affect the communities in the short and long term.

We invite all individuals who want to stop human rights violations in Education to become Volunteers at Broken Chalk.

Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 16th and 31st of May, 2023

Broken Chalk proudly presents the fifth edition of “Education Monitor: Around the Globe” between the 16th and 31st of May, 2023. Broken Chalk aims with this letter to increase public awareness of  Educational problems, challenges, and violations in the scope of the world. This newsletter is unique. This is a weekly newsletter in which we attempt to monitor and convey educational news from around the world in a concise manner. This monitor will be published biweekly with the effort of our young and enthusiastic team.

You can contribute to our work if you like. If you witness any violations in the scope of education, you can write the comment part of this post. Broken Chalk will try to address the issue in its next monitor edition.

To Download it as pdf : Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 16th and 31st of May, 2023

Broken Chalk Platform, in March 2019, was founded by a group of educators abroad who experienced and have been experiencing severe human rights violations in Turkey and had to ask for asylum currently in several countries.

These education volunteers also suffered greatly and started their new lives in their new countries without human rights violations. They gained respect just because they were considered human beings in those countries. However, they left one part of their minds and hearts in their homeland. They assigned themselves a new duty, and the human rights violations they left behind had to be announced to the World. A group of education volunteers who came together for this purpose started their activities under the Broken Chalk platform’s umbrella. However, the Broken Chalk platform was not enough to serve their aims. Therefore, they completed their official establishment as a Human Rights Foundation in October 2020.

Broken Chalk is now much more than a platform, and we have reviewed and enlarged our vision and mission within this framework. Violations of rights would be the first in our agenda in the field of Education all over the World. At the point we reached today, Broken Chalk opened its door to all individuals from all across the globe, from all professions, and to all individuals who say or can say ‘I also want to stand against violations of human rights in Education for our future and whole humanity, where our generations grow up together.’

Education is essential because it can help us eliminate the evils from society, introduce, and increase the good. We want to draw the public’s and stakeholders’ attention to the fact that Education is in danger in several different parts of the World. The attacks are wide-reaching, from the bombing of schools to the murder of students and teachers. Raping and sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, and forced recruitment also occurred, instigated by armed groups. Attacks on Education harm the students and teachers but also affect the communities in the short and long term.

We invite all individuals who want to stop human rights violations in Education to become Volunteers at Broken Chalk.