GEMS Eucation has tied up with The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to conduct the largest leadership program, with the help of which 10,000 school principals will be trained in leadership skills. GEMS Education is the biggest private education service provider, rendering service from Kindergarten to Grade12; Sunny Varkey, Padmashri recipient and Dubai-based Indian business man happens to be the founder of GEMS Education.
Kenya, Ghana and India will benefit in the first phase of this program. Here, over a period of four years, 10,000 school principals will be trained. In India, 3500 principals will gain the benefit if being trained under the ‘Leadership Program’. Most of the developing countries do not provide any kind of leadership training to school Principals, due to which they lack the skill to take initiatives, and to effectively lead others. However, through this program, many school Principals will be able to develop and hone their leadership skills, thereby having a positive effect on their subordinate teachers, and almost 10 million children.
The Varkey GEMS Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of Gems Education, will conduct this program. This not-for-profit organization was established to help 10 million underprivileged children gain access to education, around the world. Former President of United States of America, Bill Clinton who is also the honorary Chair of the Varkey GEMS Foundation, announced the ’10,000 Principals Leadership Program,’ at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York, on September 22, 2011.
Sunny Varkey, who is also the Chairman of GEMS Education, said, “Being an Indian I always wanted to do something for the progress of my nation. Education is the most important issue in India today. The fact that millions of children do not have access to education is intolerable. For us to confront collectively, some of the biggest challenges such as poverty, conflict, prejudice and intolerance we need to lift the standards of education in this country. I strongly believe that this initiative will drive us achieve it. ”
UNESCO and the Varkey GEMS Foundation have been urging the private sector to assist NGOs, IGO’s and Governments in supporting the UN Millennium Development Goals, which also include providing quality education.
On the occasion, Irina Bokova, the Director General of UNESCO, said, “This partnership between UNESCO and the Varkey GEMS Foundation (including GEMS Education) is an excellent example of new platforms for cooperation the world needs today. Tackling complex, global challenges require innovative and far-reaching partnerships between the public and private organizations. GEMS Education works for education as a force for development, for individual realization, for tolerance and dialogue and, indeed, as a basic human right.”
