On Wednesday, 28th of February, the APPG on Global Education held its Annual General Meeting to elect officers, review the group’s activities over the last year, and discuss plans for the year ahead. The group acknowledged the new rules for APPGs coming into effect on March 31st of this year, which require APPGs to have exactly 4 officers under certain specifications and additional transparency requirements among other changes.
The meeting began with the election of officers. The group unanimously elected Vicky Ford MP (Con) as Chair and Registered Contact, Lord Michael German (Lib Dem) as Co-Chair, Baroness Christine Blower (Lab) as Vice Chair, and Patrick Grady MP (SNP) as Vice Chair and Treasurer. Lord Jack McConnell (Lab) will also serve as an Officer in an informal capacity. A big thank you to outgoing Vice Chairs Lord Colin Low, Baroness Liz Sugg, and Marion Fellows MP for their leadership and ongoing commitment to global education.
The APPG had a busy year, hosting a launch event for the Send My Friend to School Coalition’s report ‘Let My Friends Learn’ on Education in Emergencies, an EGM, a roundtable on the status of SDG4 at its halfway point, assisting with the organisation of a Westminster Hall debate on the SDGs, and a drop-in session for Parliamentarians to meet with youth campaigners from the Send My Friend to School schools campaign. The group wishes to send a special thank you to all the young people who take part in Send My Friend to School, proclaiming, “Their contribution to young people in other parts of the world is deeply impressive and making a real difference to the futures of others.”
Upcoming moments of note are the African Union’s Year of Education, the Summit of the Future, and the UK’s General Election. The group also discussed other events of interest happening in Parliament and ways to make global education a higher priority across party agendas.
The AGM was attended by Vicky Ford MP, Lord Jack McConnell, Patrick Grady MP, Ian Murray MP, and Jim Shannon MP. Vicky Ford chaired the meeting. Thank you to all who participated in this meeting.
The APPG looks forward to another year of championing the cause to ensure everyone, everywhere can access a quality education.