The summit, a key initiative of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ Our Common Agenda, aimed to prioritize education on the global political agenda. It brought together education leaders during the 77th session of the UN General Assembly to mobilize action and find solutions for recovering pandemic-related learning losses.
The Transforming Education Summit was recently held to tackle the global crisis in education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With over 90 percent of children worldwide experiencing disruptions in their education, this crisis is unprecedented in scale.
The summit, a key initiative of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ Our Common Agenda, aimed to prioritize education on the global political agenda. It brought together education leaders during the 77th session of the UN General Assembly to mobilize action and find solutions for recovering pandemic-related learning losses.
The Our Common Agenda envisions inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism to propel action on the Sustainable Development Goals and restore global progress. It outlines solutions for emerging gaps and risks since 2015, culminating in a 2024 Future Summit.
The United Nations cited that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact, particularly on girls and young women, who face the risk of permanent breaks in their education. Additionally, the crisis has exposed significant disparities not only between countries but also within different learner groups.
“Education today is in turmoil. More than 90 percent of the world’s children have had their education interrupted by COVID-19 — the largest disruption of education systems in history,” the organization said.
“For many students, especially girls and young women, this break may become permanent, with potential consequences for their future and for future generations that follow,” it said.
Education systems need to adapt to the changing professional skills landscape, fostering student-centered and dynamic learning environments, the UN said.
Moreover, it stated that it is crucial to develop alternative pathways for individuals who have been left behind or excluded from traditional educational systems. These pathways would enable them to acquire essential life skills and pursue upskilling and reskilling opportunities for lifelong learning.
The UN emphasized that in the face of a global climate crisis, rapid technological transformation, shifts in the world of work, dwindling trust in public institutions, erosion of democratic values, and the rise of disinformation, intolerance, and hate speech, current learning systems are failing children, young people, and learners of all ages.
The summit served as a platform to discuss strategies and implement measures that will pave the way for a brighter future in education. It is a vital step in recovering from the educational setbacks caused by the pandemic and building a more resilient and inclusive education system.
