On February 20, 2024, in recognition of the World Day of Social Justice, GPE convened a significant parliamentary roundtable in Berlin.
The event, hosted at the German Bundestag, brought together key policy makers and education advocates to discuss how Germany can continue its global commitment to strengthening education systems despite current political and budgetary challenges.
The roundtable featured Laura Frigenti, GPE’s CEO, who emphasized the critical role of education in building just, stable and secure societies.
She was joined by Susanne Menge (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Nadja Sthamer (SPD), and Knut Gerschau (FDP), who co-hosted the discussion.
The event explored innovative financing mechanisms such as the GPE Multiplier and debt relief initiatives. These discussions highlighted Germany's pivotal role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and ensuring equitable access to quality education worldwide.
Participants agreed that investments in education are direct investments in social justice. As pointed out during the event, ensuring that every girl receives 12 years of education could increase global human capital by $15-30 trillion.
Moreover, education equips young people with the skills needed to address and mitigate the effects of climate change—a challenge that now threatens nearly one billion children globally.
The event concluded with a strong commitment from the participants to continue advocating for robust educational investments, recognizing that the future of social and economic equity depends on it.