Cambridge University’s vice-chancellor backs #UpForSchool campaign

The vice-chancellor of one of the world’s most famous universities has given his backing to the #UpForSchool campaign to get all children around the world into school.

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz of the historic University of Cambridge in England signed the #UpForSchool Petition, which calls on world leaders to provide education for all by the end of 2015.

He said: “At the start of the academic year I said that the university’s responsibilities go deep and wide and that at the forefront of those, education has to take pride of place.”

“Our responsibility to education starts much earlier than at the university stage. We are working globally and locally to ensure we deliver on our responsibilities. Education is a key factor in raising people out of poverty. I believe that boys and girls across the world have the right to an education but I know that some cannot exercise that right. It is everyone’s responsibility to change this.”

#UpForSchool is an international youth-led campaign run through A World at School, bringing together a movement of people from civil society, teachers, faiths, youth, business, international and non-governmental organisations demanding world leaders take immediate action to get all children into school and learning.

It has already attracted more than three million signatures from people around the world and its supporters range from United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winners Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi to celebrities including TV reality show judge Sharon Osbourne and Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Our Vice-Chancellor is #UpForSchool. Education transforms lives of children worldwide #wowcambs @aworldatschool http://t.co/xv7AlXIZB5

— Cambridge University (@Cambridge_Uni) February 24, 2015

The Cambridge University signing comes just two weeks before a major debate, hosted jointly in Cambridge and London, that will examine the transformative power of education for women and girls around the world. Entitled The Education Emergency, it will feature notable speakers including Mariam Khalique, the former teacher of Malala Yousafzai.

The debate is part of this year’s Women of the World (WOW) Cambridge Festival which takes place on March 7 to 9. It has been organised by Pauline Rose, Professor of International Education, and Dame Barbara Stocking, President of Murray Edwards’ College.

Make your voice heard by signing the #UpForSchool Petition now.