Education Project creates new community of global educators committed to pursuit of better education for all

Unfortunately education outcomes around the world have steadily declined over time in spite of increased government spending.

The Education Project, which is the initiative of His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB), hopes to address this with the creation of a new community of international educational professionals from all sectors interested in developing new models and standards in education.

Throughout the two-day event that concluded today, delegates were provided with a platform to showcase seedling models of innovation and success in education, and encourage commitments from the private and public sector to adapt these models for wider roll-out. Key speakers on the Final Day of the Education Project, included:

• Dr Law Song Seng, Senior Advisor, ITE Education Services Private Limited (ITEES), Singapore, who discussed the topic: 'Attracting students to vocational training';

• Dr Janice Jackson, Lecturer on Education and Senior Associate for the Executive Education Leadership Program, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Tony Wagner, Co-Director of the Change Leadership Group, Harvard Graduate School of Education, speaking on the topic: 'Equipping all levels of the sector with leadership and change management skills';

• Kari Pitkänen, Director of Administration, Finnish National Board of Education, on the topic: 'What will it take to attract the best and brightest into the teaching profession';

• Dr Shirley Gatenio Gabel, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Social Science, Fordham University and Dr Mary Eming Young, Lead Child Development Specialist, World Bank (by video), who explored findings from Day 1's half-day focus session on the topic: 'An early start: increasing long-term learning outcomes through pre-school education';

• Aaron Brenner, founder of KIPP SHINE Prep, and Head of Primary Schools, KIPP Houston, Nancy Ames, former Vice President, Educational Development Center EDC, Dr Taddy Blecher, CEO of the Community and Individual Development Association and CEO of the Maharishi Institute in South Africa, and Kari Pitkänen, Director of Administration, Finnish National Board of Education who contributed to the panel: 'Taking seeds of success to scale'.

Delegates identified a series of actions during the year ahead, to be taken into next year's project and which will serve to propel education outcomes globally.

Bahrain's Education Minister Dr. Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi also spoke to delegates during the conference. Education and training is an important pillar underpinning Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and National Economic Strategy.

Speaking at the final day of the event, Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of the EDB, said, "The Education Project was borne of a deep conviction that in order to improve learning outcomes for our children, there needed to be a gathering place for top educational thinkers innovators and practitioners which include: administrators, principles, teachers and policy makers - together the business elite, and particularly the media on whom we rely to get the word out so that we can get the attention of policy makers, as well as sources of funding for your great ideas, so that we can accelerate the pace of change."