PROFESSOR COLCLOUGH: THE CANDIDATE OF THE STUDENTS

While most students enjoyed the sun abroad or their mother’s cooking at home after an intensive exam period, some students stayed in Leuven to attend the yearly conferral of the honorary doctorates. This year, ‘the child’ was chosen as the theme and K.U.Leuven had the privilege to welcome six prominent persons with noteworthy achievements relating to this matter. One of the candidates, professor Colclough, was nominated and promoted by the students for his vigorous plea to guarantee ‘Education for All’.

Each year on the February 2nd, immediately after the first exam period, K.U.Leuven celebrates its Patron’s Feast. Traditionally, the university makes use of this occasion for the ceremonial conferral of the honorary doctorates for persons of outstanding distinction. Since last year, students also get the opportunity to select candidates. It should not be of any surprise that this year’s theme, ‘the child’, was especially appealing to the students. They nominated professor Colclough of the University of Cambridge for his substantial contribution in emphasising the importance of primary education for all children around the world. Bruno Spriet, a student representative of LOKO, took on the task of promoting professor Colclough. At this point, it should be mentioned that he thoroughly accomplished this duty.

MILLENIUM GOALS
Professor Colclough has a background in studying economics. During his time at university, the problems of the poorest people in the world rapidly caught his attention and motivated him to engage in academic research, stipulating effective applications and policies. Currently, he is Commonwealth Professor of Education at the University of Cambridge. The students especially value his role in setting up the Global Monitoring Report on Education For All (EFA). These reports keep track of the progress in achieving ‘universal primary education’, one of the Millenium Development Goals. Not only do too few children attend school in developing countries; the quality of the provided education is often unsatisfactory and in many cases girls remain excluded from the school desks. The research in which professor Colclough is involved, demonstrated that economic growth can only benefit the wider population if investments are made at the base. When citizens of developing countries are offered the opportunity of personal development, they do not just have the possibility towards improving their own living conditions, but also to contribute substantially to the general development of their countries.

LONG ROAD
How close is the world today in achieving ‘Education for All’? Not close enough - that is for sure. It is estimated that still over 70 million children are currently left out of any form of education. The past few years, the economic crisis reversed some of the previous achievements, causing many children who did have access to education, not to have facilities any longer. This makes the issue even more pertinent. Even though we are far removed from the ultimate objective, professor Colclough’s research established that policy makers have several economic models at their disposal that make ‘Education for All’ not only an attainable but also a realistic goal. To put this target into practice is solely a matter of political will. Therefore, the responsibility lies in the hands of politicians and policy makers. The reports in which professor Colclough co-operated and of which he was director for several years, assure that the pressure on politics will not fade and that ‘universal primary education’ will stay on the agenda of both local and international governments. The big question, however, remains whether the authorities throughout the world are willing to make the right decisions in an efficient and adequate manner. |