BEC and mEducation Alliance hold first iteration of webinar series: Education Technology for Continuity of Education in Response to COVID-19

The first iteration of this webinar series was a big success! Click here to tune in to the recording and keep the conversation going by contributing to our interactive Q&A googledoc.

BEC and mEducation Alliance welcomed nearly 100 members of our global development community (from Iraq to the Philippines to Zimbabwe), to discuss EdTech interventions from:

• Education Development Center

• Teach for All

• All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development (presented by World Vision)

Read more about each organization’s interventions and resources by clicking the above links and/or by viewing the webinar presentations. Also be sure to check out BEC’s “Pivot Stories” document, which is chock-full of resources, the solutions presented in this webinar, and more.

Stay tuned for the next webinar in this series on Monday, April 27th!

BEC Members Pivot to Meet New Learner Needs during COVID-19

The Basic Education Coalition (BEC) developed this document to highlight how international education programs are adapting to meet new learner needs that have emerged due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Specifically, the purpose of this document is to:

• Share the innovative ways implementing organizations are continuing to provide learning opportunities during COVID-19.

• Using this evidence,advocate for the importance of continued education during times of crisis.

• Provide resources,strategic approaches,and information for organizations adapting to the new operating environment.

Check out the amazing work BEC members are doing to keep children learning here or by clicking the image below!*

*Please download the document to enjoy it in the side-by-side view for which it is formatted.

BEC Welcomes Unbounded Associates as a New Member!

Unbounded Associates was founded in 2018 to help bridge the gap between research, policy and practice in global education. We focus on taking what works in education and applying it in context-specific, culturally appropriate ways to make change. We draw upon our technical and communications expertise and a vast network of colleagues around the world to deliver insights and strategies on educational challenges.

Our work ranges from monitoring and evaluation projects to developing stakeholder engagement strategies to technical leadership. Our team also possess a wide scope of thematic expertise including learning measurement and data use; early childhood care and education; education in emergencies and crisis; and system transformation and delivery. Current and past clients include: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Partnership for Education, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO), Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi, the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies, Moving Minds Alliance, UNICEF, RTI International, the International Commission on Financing Education Opportunity, and USAID as a subcontractor to the ECD Measure Group.

As an organization passionate about making a difference for children’s learning worldwide, Unbounded Associates brings together the right people, at the right time, and with the financial and technical resources to catalyze change.

Welcome to BEC!

BEC Welcomes Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) as a New Member!

For over 60 years, Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) has provided technical assistance in education, health, and livelihoods to host country governments, communities, and local nongovernmental organizations through a network of global staff and highly skilled specialized volunteers. Our unique relational volunteering model provides the essential pre-conditions for systemic and sustainable change by fostering trust to create equitable, resilient and inclusive locally driven solutions. Currently, VSO works in 23 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

VSO’s education programming promotes equitable and inclusive access to quality learning and skill development to the most disadvantaged children and young people. We work in basic education in both formal and non-formal education systems in the areas of education system strengthening, education in emergencies, gender and social inclusion, youth engagement, and social accountability. VSO programs’ aim to create systematic change by actively engaging actors at all levels, including parents, children, communities, teachers, education managers, head teachers, and political and education leaders.

Welcome to BEC!

New Resource: Basic Education in the Time of COVID-19

BEC has developed a COVID-19 one-pager to showcase how the development community is responding to changing educational needs and to advocate for basic education as a fundamental human right—especially during times of crisis. Click here or on the image below to view or download the document.

BEC hires Paige Morency-Notario as new Director of Outreach and Communications

BEC is thrilled to announce Paige Morency-Notario as our new Director of Outreach and Communications. Paige is a passionate development professional who brings a wealth of teaching, inclusion, education technical support, project management, communications, outreach, and monitoring and evaluation experience to the role. Paige holds two master's degrees in Education and Special Education. She previously provided technical assistance on reading projects in FHI 360's Francophone portfolio and has also worked on Chemonics’ Monitoring, Evaluation, & Learning (MEL) Team and Education & Youth Team. Paige has been an active member of the BEC Monitoring & Evaluation Working Group and is very familiar with the international education community. She looks forward to working together to advocate for solutions to common challenges and creatively showcase our successes.

BEC members can reach Paige Morency-Notario at pmorencynotario@basiced.org.

Announcement from Beth Johnson

After three and a half years, my time with BEC is coming to a close. Next month, I will join the Dexis team as Senior Gender and Policy Advisor in the Office of Education at USAID. 

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to our BEC members. It has truly been a joy to collaborate with you all and to advocate on behalf of your collective efforts to ensure quality education for all children. You inspire me every day!

We are finalizing the job description for a new Director of Outreach and Communications and will publish it on our website, soon. 

Happy holidays and a bright New Year to all! 

BEC to Host the Global Reading Network in 2020

The BEC Board of Directors is pleased to welcome the Global Reading Network (GRN) for a temporary hosting arrangement at BEC. Since its founding in 2014, GRN has brought together donors, practitioners, government officials, national and international CSO’s, and other stakeholders committed to improving reading outcomes for primary grade children around the world. BEC will support the continuation of core components of GRN’s work in 2020.

BEC to Present ECE Art Exhibit at CIES 2020

Through an interactive art exhibit, the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Group of the Basic Education Coalition (BEC) will remind CIES 2020 participants of the reason for our collective work: Healthy and curious children are the global leaders of tomorrow. This exhibit will display original work by children and educators around the world, collected by BEC members during implementation of ECE programs. Explore www.cies2020.org for more information about the conference.

BEC Hosts Age of Learning

On November 21st, BEC hosted a special presentation by Age of Learning a California-based Ed Tech company that is improving digital literacy and English language skills around the world, including in Costa Rica and building E-learning community hubs in Papua New Guinea. Learn more about their Bringing Learning to All initiative. 

Note: In 2019, the BEC Board of Directors unanimously approved the creation of a new technical working group for Ed Tech. The group will formally launch in Winter of 2020.