Call for Papers
International Gandhi Jayanti Conference 2015
“Education as a Basic Right of Humankind”
on the Occasion of the International Day of Nonviolence
October 3-4, 2015 | New Delhi
organized by
Indialogue Foundation
and
Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Jamia Millia Islamia
(A Central University)
in association with
The Journalists and Writers, Dialogue Eurasia Platform Kyrgyzstan and Educational Endowment Trust
Concept Note: Education is at the heart of the core problems of a society, potential solutions for making a healthy society and for peace building as well. Education is the key to eliminating gender inequality, to reducing poverty, to creating a sustainable planet, to preventing needless deaths and illness, and to fostering peace. Education has always played a very crucial role in forming the societies and training the individual throughout his existence. In spite of varied social dynamics found in many countries around the world, it is usually observed that the more education people have, the better off they are.
Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, who still inspires the masses beyond the boundaries of colors and classes, believed that education acts as a catalyst in fostering peace and ensuring socio-economic development of the society as well. He considered education the panacea for all social evils. Gandhi once viewed: “Education means all-round drawing out of the best in child and man in body, mind, and spirit.”
Thus the right to education, like other human rights, is an inalienable and basic right in nature, for which every human being is equally entitled, regardless of one’s nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status.
Viewing the unique importance of education in nation building and for individual’s development, India stood out to amend its Constitution more than once to make education more inclusive and equally accessible to all its citizens. The nation imposed upon itself an obligation and accorded the status of fundamental right to education with the passage of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 (or Right to Education Act) which came into effect on April 1, 2010.
Education as a basic human right is a sine qua non for the development of humans. It is an important claim because there is a responsibility to enable children to develop a set of capabilities to lead their own lives in a meaningful and fulfilling way. Ex President of UN Kofi Annan once expressed, “Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.”
Many existing international laws and UN documents have been ceated to promote and to protect this notion of education like the UDHR, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). These documents have helped to establish viable legal mechanisms from which nation-states can and have implemented, supported, and assessed effective social structures necessary to provide for appropriate educational opportunities. UNESCO’s aim to construct XXI century as a learning society by promoting the MDG to achieve free universal basic primary public education for all by 2015 was both an important and a worthwhile objective. In the run-up to 2015, (post 2015 global development agenda) education has been put into GCE’s two urgent priorities.
Currently almost 70 million children of primary school age do not, or cannot, attend school – a staggering statistics that suggests that the establishment of a right to education is a high-priority claim in today’s world. Education plays a large role in achieving just societies because education can develop a child’s sense of self, sense of community, and sense of citizenship. While it is true that the provision of education is costly and multifaceted, a public institution of education needs to be in place to manage the kinds of educational opportunities that are available and to secure the kinds of resources that are necessary.
Objectives: The primary objective of this conference is to provide a platform for academics, researchers, educators, students, experts, and researchers in a collaborative environment to present and discuss issues relating to education and the prospects of its being considered as a basic right of humankind. The conference will become the platform for constructive dialogue on education and its different aspects along with furnishing a healthy forum to communicate and discuss research findings and new advances for making education more inclusive with the notion of a human right which is basic in nature and everyone is equally entitled to access it.
Subthemes:
- Education as a Basic Right of Humankind: Philosophical Approach
- Education in Gandhi’s Philosophy: Implications for Today
- Gandhi’s Educational Policies
- Education as a Fundamental Right in Constitution
- Education and Development: Historical and Economic Approach
- Inclusive Education: Marginal and Less Privileged Communities and Groups
- Educational Policies: Best Practices from the World
- Right to Education Act: Prospects, Challenges and Cases
- UN’s Educational Millennium Development Goals: Assessments
- Education in Post 2015 Global development agenda: Apprehensions and Expectations
- Role of Sport, Art and Music Education for Human Development
- Holistic Education and Cognitive Development
- Primary, Secondary and Higher Education: Availing for All
- Achievements, Challenges and Issues in Current Education Processes
- Education as a catalyst of Peacebuilding and Peaceful Coexistence
- Gender aspects in Education: Championing Girls’ Education
- Religious and Scientific Education: Hand in Hand
- Education in Mother Tongue: Prospects and Challenges
- Contributing to Education by CSOs: Voluntarism and Philanthropy
- Role of Public Private Partnership Initiatives in Education
- Environmental, Human Rights and Health Education: Road Ahead
- Utilizing ICT-based Education Platforms to Educate Less Privileged
- Role of MOOCs (Online Courses) for Empowerment
- Distance, Open and Continues Education: Practices
- Adult Education and Skill Development
- Transforming Teachers into Educators: Teacher Training Programs
- Current Trends in Education Systems
Paper Submission:
- Order: Author’s Details, Title of the Paper, Abstract, Key Words, Body, Conclusion, References, Appendices
- Authors Details: Full name of the author/authors with name title, designation, institutional affiliation, city, state, email-id, mobile number; aligned to left
- Title of the Paper: only initial letters to be capitalized; aligned to center
- Abstract: not more than 350 words
- Key words: up to seven keywords; italic
- Body: Paper should be less than 15 pages
- Format: font size –12, font type – Times New Roman, software – Microsoft Office Word, line spacing – 1.0, page – A4
- Photo: Kindly attach a digital-copy of your photo
- Authorization: Kindly attach scanned copy of the duly signed Certificate of Originality and Author Approval Form along with the Paper; format of certificate can be found at www.indialogue.in
Venue: Conference Hall, FTK Center for Information Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Participation:
- Intercity AC Train/Bus facility fare will be sponsored for paper presenters from India coming from outstation of NCR
- Guest House accommodation facility at Jamia Millia Islamia will be provided for paper presenters from outstation and abroad
- Taj Mahal trip on 5th October and New Delhi sightseeing on 6th October will be facilitated for guests from abroad.
Important Dates:
- Last date for Paper submission is September 1, 2015
- Notification of selected Papers is September 10, 2015
Conference Patron:
Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Organizing Committee:
Prof. Mohd Akhtar Siddiqui, Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Jamia Millia Islamia (Chairman)
Prof. Shoeb Abdullah, Head, Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Jamia Millia Islamia
Mr. B. Acikgoz, President, Indialogue Foundation
Mr. U. Bolushov, President, Dialogue Eurasia Platform Kyrgyzstan
Mr. S. Kucukzoroglu, Vice President, Educational Endowment Trust
Mr. N. Kaparov, Director Delhi Office, Indialogue Foundation
Editorial Committee:
Prof. Shoeb Abdullah, Head, Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Jamia Millia Islamia (Chairman)
Prof. Mohd Akhtar Siddiqui, Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Jamia Millia Islamia
Prof. M.M. Verma, President, Interfaith Foundation India
Dr. Anil Dutta Mishra, Former Deputy Director, National Gandhi Museum and Library
Dr. M. D. Thomas, Director, Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies
Fr. Dr. Victor Edwin JS, Lecturer, Vidyajyothi College
Conference Coordinators:
Mr. A. Azizov, Indialogue Foundation
Mr. F. Thondiyil, Indialogue Foundation
Mr. M. A. Mufazzal, Indialogue Foundation
Conference Secretary:
Mr. M. A. Mufazzal
+91-9560611339
gandhiconference@indialogue.in