As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaches, a UN conference underscored the global shortfall in education targets. Speakers highlighted the need for increased funding, the commitment to education as a human right, and the importance of innovative digital learning initiatives. The event ended with a clarion call for countries to prioritize education spending as an investment in humanity.
As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals looms, dire concerns about the global progress on education were voiced at the United Nations conference, “Ensuring Education Continuity: The Roles of Education in Emergencies, Protracted Crises and Building Peace.”
The director of Education Cannot Wait, Yasmine Sherif, asserted that the world is underperforming on its promises on SDGs, particularly in education. She added that without education, no other SDG could be realistically achieved.
Co-organized by numerous global partners, including the Permanent Missions of Japan, Italy, and Switzerland, the conference was held to highlight the role of education as a critical lifeline during emergencies.
The meeting coincided with the High-Level Political Forum, where it was disclosed that the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Report indicated a severe shortfall in meeting the quality education target. A worrying statistic revealed that learning losses were incurred in four out of five countries studied post-COVID-19.
The dire state of refugee children is of particular concern, with 34.6 million refugees worldwide at the end of 2022, a record high. Among these, 41 percent are children and according to ECW, 224 million crisis-affected children require education, with more than half not meeting minimum literacy or numeracy standards.
During the forum, Stefania Giannini, assistant director-general for education at UNESCO, and Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane, permanent representative of Japan to the UN, emphasized the importance of recognizing education as a fundamental human right and called for a commitment to the Safe Schools Declaration.
Awut Deng Acuil, minister of education in South Sudan, emphasized that maintaining education during crises provides children with a “sense of normalcy,” supporting their social and emotional well-being. She also highlighted a recent ECW program in South Sudan aimed at supporting vulnerable children, including refugees from Sudan.
The discussions also featured success stories and measures taken to ensure education continuity, including the UNESCO Qualifications Passport initiative and the joint UNESCO and UNICEF initiative Gateways to Public Digital Learning.
Despite these advancements, funding remains a significant barrier. Charles North, CEO of the Global Partnership for Education, pointed out that the number of children affected by crises is increasing, but funding is not keeping pace. Save the Children’s Executive Director for Policy, Advocacy, and Campaigns, Rotimy Djossaya urged for debt relief for countries whose debt burdens limit their ability to invest in education.
As the event concluded, it underscored the pressing need to prioritize education on national and global levels. Sherif left with a compelling message, “Spend money on education, invest in humanity.”
