UNITING NATIONS THROUGH EDUCATION: A GLOBAL DRIVE FOR TRANSFORMATION

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

The entire world has seen significant milestones in the worldwide drive to improve education. Against the backdrop of an urgent learning and fiscal crises, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (“UNESCO”) demand for a worldwide mobilization to put education at the top of the political agenda resonated around the world, resulting in fresh national and international commitments. Three UNESCO World Conferences on early childhood, higher education, and lifelong learning established a shared vision and pledged to accelerate progress over the next decade.

WHY EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION MATTERS

The right to education begins at birth. The new UNESCO data shows that 1 out of 4 children aged 5 have never had any form of pre-primary education. This represents 35 million out of 137 million 5-year-old children worldwide. Despite research that proves the benefits of early childhood care and education, only half of all countries guarantee free pre-primary education around the world. UNESCO’s World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in November. With the adoption of the Tashkent Declaration, countries committed to invest at least 10% of total education spending on pre-primary education and to ensure that salaries and working condition of pre-school personnel are at least at par with those of primary education teachers.

UNESCO’S APPROACH TO TRANSFORM EDUCATION

UNESCO has been mobilizing and consulting all stakeholders and partners to stimulate the transformation of every aspect of learning, including an urgent call to increase education funding. An estimated US$200 billion additional education finance is required annually to get low- and lower-middle-income countries on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (“SDG”).

Recent UNESCO findings reveal that around half of the 100 countries had no mention of climate change in their national curriculum. And nearly one-third of school-age children 463 million are without access to distance learning. That is why at the Transforming Education Summit, UNESCO put the spotlight on key initiatives to accelerate action: 

• Getting every learner climate-ready: Building on the knowledge and practice accumulated in Education for Sustainable Development, a new Greening Education Partnership aims to deliver strong, coordinated and comprehensive action that will prepare every learner to acquire the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to tackle climate change and to promote sustainable development.
• Expanding public digital learning: A Global Initiative on Public Digital Learning will map and analyse existing public platforms and content; help countries create and strengthen national platforms; identify and share best practices; and establish international norms and standards to guide the development of platforms. The initiative aims to ensure that every learner, teacher, and family can easily access, find, and use high-quality and curriculum-aligned digital education content to advance their learning.
• Fast-tracking gender equality in education: UNESCO and partners launched a Call to Action to catalyse cooperation and transformative action on gender equality in and through education, together with a Global Platform to drive leadership and accountability.
• Improving access for crisis-affected children and youth: UNESCO together with partners presented a Commitment to Action to improve access and learning outcomes for children and youth affected by crises; to support teachers and to increase financing across humanitarian and development instruments. It stresses a holistic approach across health and social sectors.

THE RIGHT TO LIFELONG LEARNING

There are 771 million illiterate adults globally today and many more do not have the adequate skills and knowledge needed to navigate through our increasingly digital 21st century demands. While participation in adult education is improving in some places, access to learning opportunities remains profoundly unequal. To advance the world’s commitment to the right to lifelong learning, UNESCO convened the International Conference on Adult Education in Marrakech, Morocco in June. With the adoption of the Marrakech Framework for Action, over 140 countries committed to translating the vision of a right to lifelong learning into reality. The Framework will guide the development of adult learning and education over the coming decade.

LOOKING AHEAD

To ensure commitments are translated into concrete plans, the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee has set up new indicators measuring green and digital education at the national level, and calls on countries to build on the Sustainable Development Goal benchmarking process by setting national targets for both. These benchmarks will measure the progress that each country intends to achieve by 2025 and 2030.

UNESCO calls for maintaining strong political mobilization around education and chart the way to translate commitments and global initiatives into action. The International Day for Education, celebrated worldwide on 24 January, will be the year’s first event to ensure that education is at the top of governments’ agendas in a context of a global recession, growing inequalities and the climate crisis.

HOW WE CAN HELP?

Corporate firms can contribute to the education sector in various ways, leveraging their resources, expertise, and networks to support educational initiatives.

• Our firm can help in providing grants, scholarships, or donations to educational institutions, programs, or students in need can significantly impact access to education.
• Our experts assist in advising in investing in the development of educational infrastructure, such as building schools, libraries, or laboratories, can enhance learning environments and resources.
• Our team works in supporting the integration of technology in education through donations of computers, software, or funding for technology-driven educational programs can help modernize learning experiences.