By: ATN News
United Nations: UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the critical importance of education as a foundational investment for the future of any nation during a special event on transforming education held in New York today. Addressing the global education crisis, Guterres underscored the widening inequalities, urgent climate action, disruptive technologies, and increasing violence that have compounded the challenges since the Transforming Education Summit two years ago.
“Without a dramatic shift in tackling that crisis, we cannot — and will not — shape a more peaceful, sustainable and just world,” Guterres stated. “Because education is about more than knowledge and skills. Education is about the future.”
Guterres highlighted the multifaceted impact of education on children, young people, economies, the environment, technological advancement, and societal relationships. He stressed the need for countries to foster lifelong learning opportunities, warning that the world cannot afford to short-change education.
The Secretary-General presented alarming statistics: an estimated 84 million children are projected to be out of school by 2030, and while secondary school completion rates are increasing, progress remains painfully slow. Guterres also pointed to the stark quality gap, citing that 70 percent of children in sub-Saharan Africa cannot read a basic text by age 10.
The ongoing repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused unprecedented school closures and learning losses, continue to affect education systems worldwide. Guterres criticized the insufficient preparedness of these systems to equip learners with necessary skills for a rapidly changing world, noting that early childhood education and vocational and adult learning are often undervalued.
Highlighting the financial challenges, Guterres referenced UNESCO's estimate of a $100 billion annual investment gap for developing countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4. He called attention to the disturbing fact that four out of ten people live in countries where governments spend more on debt servicing than on education or health.
At the Transforming Education Summit, over 140 countries committed to ambitious national plans to address the crisis, with international partners supporting various initiatives. However, Guterres acknowledged the slow and uneven progress, calling for urgent action.
He proposed a four-point plan to end the global education crisis:
1. **Closing the Financing Gap:** Guterres urged leaders to meet or exceed the international benchmarks of dedicating 15 percent of domestic revenue and 4 percent of GDP to education. He highlighted potential revenue gains through better taxation and efficient public expenditure, particularly in Africa. Additionally, he called for increased donor development spending on education and for multilateral development banks to protect education funding in debt-distressed countries.
2. **Closing the Access Gap:** Emphasizing the need for education in war zones, disaster areas, and underserved communities, Guterres advocated for full investment in safe, accessible educational infrastructure. He condemned policies such as those in Afghanistan that ban young women from education and called for an end to attacks on schools.
3. **Supporting Teachers:** Guterres addressed the global shortage of 44 million teachers and the lack of support and continuous training for existing educators. He welcomed the High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession's recommendations and called for the implementation of a new global standard on the Status of Teachers.
4. **Revolutionizing Education Systems:** Guterres urged a departure from traditional structures limiting education to children and young people, advocating for lifelong learning and reduced reliance on rote learning. He emphasized the need for critical thinking, problem-solving, and skills in green and digital technologies, alongside innovative teaching methods and digital access for remote learners.
“Education is the single-most important investment any country can make. In its people. And in its future,” Guterres concluded. He called for a united effort to keep education at the forefront of the global agenda, develop solutions, and support lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The event set the stage for the upcoming Summit of the Future in September, the Global Education Meeting in November, and next year’s major Summits on Social Development and Financing for Development, reinforcing the pivotal role of education in achieving a just, sustainable world.
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