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The United Nations has issued a critical call for information to help shape the global understanding of children’s right to education. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity for education experts to influence the drafting of an international treaty that aims to ensure all children, everywhere, receive the quality education they are entitled to, from early childhood through the end of secondary education.
This book reflects what is often in the back of my mind as I think about what drove me to master a plant-based cuisine. It mirrors my belief that biodiversity begins on the plate; that changing our mindsets about the way we eat can have a profound impact on the world around us.
Global food insecurity has been a growing risk, compounded by climate change, conflict and economic instability. At the same time, obesity rates have surged due to food production practices, the marketing of unhealthy dietary patterns, and sedentary lifestyles.
The world is changing – quickly. We are reminded daily, even hourly, that we have entered a new era of geopolitical, economic, demographic and technological disruption. For decades, policy makers have assumed that economic globalization would yield democratic progress and more equitable opportunities – and assumed that improvements in educational outcomes inevitably would help countries leapfrog towards sustainable development. Today, this picture is more clouded.
When nine-year-old Nahom and his family finally arrived in Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region, they were physically and emotionally exhausted. They had fled their home amid violent conflict, walking for months in search of safety. In Mekelle, they found lifesaving aid – food, water, shelter – but the nightmares of war lingered. Only in a classroom filled with songs, games, and compassionate teachers did Nahom begin to rediscover joy, heal, and prepare for the future.
Developed in partnership with the Network of Education Policy Centers (NEPC), a new regional edition on Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia is being launched today. It accompanies the global 2024/5 GEM Report on leadership in education and focuses on one of the most important education outcomes: inclusion. It builds on eight […]
By Norma Evans, consultant Children’s numeracy skills matter for their academic success and long-term well-being. A paper I wrote to feed into the 2024 Spotlight Report on universal basic education completion and foundational learning in Africa, Learning counts, looked at the importance of four pedagogical inputs to make numeracy work: curriculum, textbooks, teacher guides and […]
In Africa, a colonial history has hampered education development, as most children are taught in a language they do not speak at home. This slows early acquisition of reading and writing proficiency or can even prevent it outright. There are also negative links to the development of children’s social-emotional skills, including their sense of self-worth and belonging.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, new GEM Report analysis has looked at how the learning gap linked to language has changed over time, defined as the difference in the percentage of 15-year-old students speaking and not speaking the language of instruction at home who achieved minimum proficiency level (or Level 2) in reading and mathematics in the PISA learning assessment between 2012 and 2022.
AI has a special allure for many education experts who believe in its potential to revolutionize teaching methodologies, personalize learning experiences and streamline administrative tasks. But while the potential benefits of AI in education remain largely unknown, the risks of using classrooms as a testing ground for these technologies are undeniable.
The 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report argued for technology to be used in class only when it supports learning outcomes. This message includes the use of smartphones. By the end of 2023, 60 education systems (or 30%) had bans on smartphone use in schools in their laws or policies. By the end of 2024, an […]
Starting in March 2025, new AI textbooks will be introduced into Korean schools in mathematics, English, informatics, and Korean for special education, targeting grade 3 and 4 primary school students, as well as students in the first year of lower secondary and upper secondary school.
Engineers are an integral part of our society. Their innovative contributions are essential for enhancing quality of life. In today’s digital era, universities must produce competent engineers equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a competitive marketplace. Universities in developed nations prioritize a balanced mix of technical and soft skills to prepare engineers for successful careers. Technical skills, such as mathematics, programming and engineering principles, are vital for problem-solving and innovation, while soft skills like communication, teamwork and critical thinking enhance collaboration and leadership improving overall performance metrics.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted all aspects of life, including education. To curb the virus spread, schools worldwide closed in March 2020, impacting over a billion children for an average of 5.5 months, with some regions facing longer interruptions. While necessary for public health, these closures had lasting effects on student learning. Even though schools have since reopened, some as late as 2022, the impact of the closures continues to be felt.
Teachers are the heartbeat of education — sparking curiosity, inspiring minds, and shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Their impact reaches far beyond the classroom, as they not only help build the future of individual students but also contribute to the progress and well-being of society as a whole.
In Moldova in 2007, residential institutions housed over 11,000 orphans and children with special needs. Since then, reforms have seen it move towards a more inclusive education system. Segregated education systems persist in many countries still. A PEER mapping of over 200 education system’s laws and policies carried out in 2020 for the 2020 GEM Report on inclusion and education found that laws in 25% of countries make provisions for educating children with disabilities in separate settings.
The fourth recommendation in the 2024/5 GEM Report on leadership in education focuses on the need to develop education officials’ capacity to serve as system leaders. Who are education system leaders? System leaders are education officials, at the central and local levels, who help achieve system-wide education goals by setting directions, ensuring monitoring and supporting, developing and leading school actors.
This week, a three-day conference is taking place in Addis Ababa, hosted by UNESCO, the African Union Commission and key continental organizations to identify the root causes of challenges hindering science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Africa, and to develop effective strategies to overcome them and unlock the continent's development potential.
In recent years, like other human activities, the education sector has felt the effects of climate change. As the 2024/5 GEM Report reported, many low- and lower-middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather events. The number of medium- to large-scale disasters is projected to increase from 400 annually in 2015 to 560, or about 1.5 each day, by 2030.
Students’ welfare in school also depends on freedom from abusive, hurtful and intimidating behaviours, something we should remember as we celebrate three key international days this month: the International Day Against Violence and Bullying at School, the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
This year alone, millions of people worldwide experienced extreme climate events, groundbreaking temperatures, genocides, and deadly exposure to toxic chemicals and pollution. Why have our education systems not caught up with this crisis? And what does Trump's recent election to the US presidency – given his track record as a climate denialist and constant threats on public education, mean for the world?
Africa contributes a measly 3% of global carbon emissions, yet no continent is feeling the heat – literally – as much. Rising temperatures are killing our livestock, and coastal areas face the brunt of rising sea levels. It's a harsh reality brought on by a world that has prioritized convenience over sustainability.
I vividly recall being in the 6th grade, spending weeks meticulously cutting out used cereal boxes to build my very own shack in the simulated city of El Hopa – a land of hopes and dreams. We were embodying the role of villagers from a rural area, faced with increasing agricultural hardship due to unpredictable climates and attracted by the promise of moving to the big city. As I placed my little shack, a labour of love, I felt connected to my new city. And with it came apprehensions and fears for my future. My fears were justified as a simulated “typhoon” ripped through El Hopa, swept away my shack – and along with it – my hopes and dreams for the future.
As a young climate activist, my heart aches when I think about the destruction we're inflicting on our planet. We have one Earth, one chance to make a difference. There's no Planet B to fall back on. However, we can still find hope and innovation in unexpected places. Through gaming, we can create virtual worlds where we can practice sustainable living and bring those lessons back to our own reality.
People are excited about the potential of programs focused on children’s social and emotional learning (SEL). At the least, they can make learning a more engaging and enjoyable experience for children. But, do we know how and if SEL programs work, especially across the diverse economic, ethnic and cultural contexts that constitute low- or middle-income countries (LMICs)? The enthusiasm for SEL programs has galloped ahead of the evidence.
Leadership takes many forms and is hard to measure concretely, but it is critical for education success at all levels. There are enabling factors, however, which nurture rather than stifle talented leaders of all styles and backgrounds, in all contexts. The 2024/5 GEM Report covers these in its first three recommendations. They are underpinned by four dimensions of an education leader’s role that are relevant for them to lead effectively, whether they work in a school or a government education office: to set expectations, to focus on learning, to foster collaboration and to develop capacity.
By Anna Cristina D’Addio and Daniel April, with Samaher Al Hadheri, Chandni Jain, Maria-Rafaela Kaldi, Manuela Pombo, Divya Sharma, Dorothy Wang, GEM Report The 2024/5 GEM Report on Leadership in Education launched at the Global Education Meeting in Fortaleza emphasizing the need to #LeadforLearning is largely informed by the research involved in the PEER country […]
We know that investing in education pays off in the long run—for individuals over their entire lives and for entire societies. But we also know that when it comes to financing education, the devil is in the details: governments need to invest in education adequately, efficiently and equitably to get the most value from what they spend.
The new 2024/5 GEM Report, Lead for learning, is being launched today at the Global Education Meeting organized back-to-back with the G20 Education Ministers meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil, with the participation of 44 education ministers. Its message is that investment is needed in education leaders, from the school to the system level, to inject new momentum into the drive towards the Sustainable Development Goal on education (SDG 4).
The Pacific is home to 45.5 million people spread across 30 million square kilometers, making it a unique geographic and cultural region, especially in terms of the application of technology in education. On the one hand, its geographic dispersion means that communication links are extremely important, but challenges due to natural disasters, costly infrastructure and linguistic diversity mean that the use of technology in the region requires great attention in terms of sustainability and relevance.
Calls for banning smartphones in classrooms and schools have intensified, particularly in Europe. This movement is driven by concerns about student wellbeing and the impact of technology on learning outcomes. Educators complain that smartphones are a major source of distraction, negatively impacting students’ ability to concentrate on lessons. Incoming notifications, or even the mere proximity of a mobile device, can be a distraction resulting in students losing their attention from the task at hand. A study found that it can take students up to 20 minutes to refocus on what they were learning after engaging in a non-academic activity.
By Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director, Education Cannot Wait On this International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction, we must remember the power of education in protecting communities from disasters. By empowering the next generation for a resilient future, we can make good on the commitments outlined in the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. The climate […]
As the first female maths teacher in a low-income school in Dhaka, Bangladesh, I witnessed how deeply ingrained cultural and societal barriers continue to block girls' access to quality education. Efforts were made to ensure girls attended school—scholarships were offered, policies mandated enrollment, and sanitary supplies were provided for girls. But I saw firsthand that these well-intentioned efforts didn’t always translate into meaningful change. Girls were still dropping out of my school because of cultural expectations, early marriage, or simply because their education wasn’t prioritized at home. It became clear that while these technical fixes were necessary, they didn’t address the deeper, systemic issues that held girls back.
Teachers are increasingly expected to integrate technology into various aspects of their professional practice. Effective integration means enabling teachers to make their teaching practices more learner-centered; creating engaging and relevant learning environments; and preparing students with technological knowledge and skills.
The youth edition of the 2023 GEM Report on technology in education, released last week during Digital Learning Week in Paris, calls for governments to ensure that decisions about technology in education place learners’ best interests at the center. The event brought together young people from Canada, Denmark, France, South Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe to discuss what technology in their terms would look like. Moderated by Restless and with a keynote presentation from Rémy Buisine from BRUT, a French online news platform targeting young people, the event concluded with a call to action from the Executive Director of the Global Student Forum inviting youth and students to support the campaign #TechOnOurTerms.
When it comes to education, unlike rugby, South Africa is often in the news for the wrong reasons. Far from being world champions, the country is one of the worst performers in international assessments of learning like TIMSS and PIRLS. However, South Africa has improved significantly in these assessments since the early 2000s. This year, McKinsey released a report identifying it as one of the “sustained and outsized improvers” in education.
There is a troubling gap in reading achievement between boys and girls. This disparity is not just an academic issue, it is a barrier to boys’ full participation in society. As we mark International Literacy Day on 8 September, UNESCO and the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) are releasing a brief that highlights the need to support boys in developing the reading skills that are essential for their future.
Japan’s international cooperation programmes in basic education, reflecting its own historical development experience, have emphasized the use of existing systems and resources to help build institutions.