On the last day of the Transforming Education Summit, UN Chief Antonio Guterres said that education is the guide and touchstone of life, but now the education sector is going through the most crisis.
I consider myself a life-long student, and where would this society of ours, to which I belong, be without education...Guterres asked the participants of the conference.
Education transforms society, economy and life, so we must transform the current educational practices.
Instead of being a great enabler, the UN chief pointed out that education is fast becoming "a great divide". 70% of children under the age of 10 in poor countries are illiterate or have a below-grade level of education.
While better schools, universities and new curricula promise better futures for the rich, the poor—especially girls—displaced and disabled students face huge hurdles in getting their life-changing qualifications, he continued.
COVID-19 has dealt a hammer blow to progress on Sustainable Development Goal SDG4, which targets equitable quality education.
But the education crisis started even before Covid. Convoluted and narrow curricula, ill-trained teachers and inconsistent salaries are failing education, its students and its society.
If this affects middle-class people, then the lack of financial aid is crushing the dreams of poor students due to digital education methods. Now is the time to transform education systems," the UN chief said.
Education should be open to all people. Students should have a good foundation and in-depth knowledge in everything from writing and reading to digital subjects.
Education alone does not secure anyone's life, we should also open up avenues for them to get employment.
Schools should be open to all without distinction between boys and girls. He explained the five areas of commitment which are to provide properly trained teachers to the students, to prepare safe and healthy learning spaces for the children, to implement the schemes of the government in such a way that the digital revolution will benefit all the learners, and to ensure that education grants reach the hands of the deserving ones.
“Education funding should be a priority for governments. "This is the most important investment any country can make in its people and future," the Secretary-General said. "Expenditure and policy advice must be aligned to provide quality education for all".
"Together let's move forward so that everyone can learn, thrive and dream throughout their lives. Let's ensure that today's learners and future generations can access the education they need to create a more sustainable, inclusive, just and peaceful world for all.
Catherine Russell, head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), drew attention to the impact of war on children's education, calling on governments to "step up support to help all children learn, wherever they are".
Winnie Byanima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, highlighted the devastating impact of HIV on adolescent girls and young women in Africa, telling participants that 4,000 girls were infected every week in sub-Saharan Africa last year.
"It's a crisis!" she said. "Because if a girl is infected at that young age, there is no cure for HIV, it marks the rest of her life and opportunities."
She told the summit that 12 African countries have now committed to Education Plus, a bold initiative to prevent HIV infection through free universal and quality secondary education for all girls and boys in Africa, reinforced by comprehensive empowerment programmes.
Audrey Azoulay, leader of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reminded us that "there can be no economic development and no peace without education," and underlined that Afghan girls must be able to go back to school. “It is their right”, she upheld.
Newly announced UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Vanessa Nakate, stressed the need for all children to have access to education, as “their future depends on it”.
130 countries pledge education reboot
It was announced that more than 130 countries attending the summit, have committed to rebooting their education systems and accelerating action to end the learning crisis.