More than 3,000 Ghanaian headmasters and headmistresses are set to undergo training in what is considered to be the largest principal’s training programme in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) history. The training to be offered by GEMS Education, the world’s largest kindergarten to grade 12 education provider, The Varkey GEMS Foundation and UNESCO, is part of the ‘10,000 Principals Leadership Programme’ which was announced by President Clinton as a ‘commitment to action’ at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York today. President Bill Clinton is the honorary Chair of the Varkey GEMS Foundation. The objective of the training is to bridge gaps among principals, who are sometimes appointed with little preparation for school leadership and in underprivileged areas, some lack sufficient training. It is aimed that after the training, which will be conducted in phases, the 3,000 principals will be equipped to not only provide pedagogical support, but assume a guidance and counselling role for teachers, learners, and parents as well as planning and maintaining adequate financial material and teaching/learning material. The first phase of the programme will involve Ghana, Kenya and India. 10,000 school principals will be trained, across each country over four years. This initiative will up-skill those school leaders and the multiplier effect will benefit thousands of teachers and up to 10 million children. The Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova said at the launch, “This partnership between UNESCO and the Varkey GEMS Foundation (including GEMS Education) is an excellent example of the new platforms for cooperation the world needs today. Tackling complex, global challenges requires also innovative and far reaching partnerships between the public and private spheres. GEMS Education works for education as a force for development, for individual realization, for tolerance and dialogue and indeed as a basic human right.” The initiative reflects calls from UNESCO and the Varkey GEMS Foundation for the private sector to assist NGOs, IGO’s and Governments in supporting the UN Millennium Development Goals, including the need for access to quality education. The private education sector brings unique advantages in education that can complement the work of the non-profit sector. The Founder of the Varkey GEMS Foundation and Chairman of GEMS Education, Sunny Varkey said at the launch of the initiative, “I believe the private sector can work with NGO’s and Governments, powerfully, to provide more education to those less fortunate. The fact that 67 million children around the world have no access to education is intolerable. Education is the most important issue in the world today. For us to confront, collectively, some of the world’s biggest challenges such as poverty, conflict, prejudice and intolerance we need to lift the standards of education worldwide.” Earlier this year GEMS Education announced it will build its first international school in Kenya, in Nairobi and is set to be the region’s leading educational institution. It marks GEMS’ first entry into Africa. GEMS Education has over 10,000 employees including a team of world renowned educators who have excelled in education reform, curriculum development and teaching and learning practices. GEMS is also the first education company in the world to partner with UNESCO to improve teacher training.