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110 teachers Gathered Online for the 2022 Second half APTE Pre-programme Training 2022-08-08 Pre-programme training of the Asia-Pacific Teacher Exchange programme (hereinafter APTE) for teachers from five countries (Korea, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, and the Philippines) was held on July 16 and 23 by APCEIU. More than 110 people gathered online, including participating teachers from 26 study groups selected from five countries, officials from the Ministries of Education of each country, and school administrators. The training was comprised of an APTE introduction, which aims to reaffirm the communal objective of APTE, a Study group introduction, and an ice-breaking session to strengthen the fellowship among participants. Moreover, alumni teachers also joined the training to present their practices to promote comprehension prior to the exchange.Ms. Wonjin LIM, the ITE team director, presented the APTE programme's fundamental process. During the introduction, participants could grasp the overall procedure for APTE's administrative and practical operation.Also, the lead teachers of each study group introduced the unique features of their schools and project plans. The ice-breaking activity was followed to enhance the bond of participants. Furthermore, alumni of online APTE prepared their presentations for the participants. On 16 July, Ms. Yujeong SON from Daegu Shincheon Elementary school (Alumni of 2022 Korea-Malaysia Teacher Exchange Programme) and Mr. Cheolmin BAE from Gyeongju High school (Alumni of 2022 Korea-Thailand Teacher Exchange Programme) shared their experience and know-how of online educational exchange. On 23 July, Ms. Taeyoung KIM from Seoha Elementary school, Ms. Nahyung KIM from Gonjiam High school (Alumni of 2022 Korea-Cambodia Teacher Exchange Programme), and Mr. Edgardo D. Pamugas III from Rizal Elementary School (Alumni of 2021 Korea-Philippines Teacher Exchange Programme) and Ms. Jinnita Pongjakthamachot from Princess Chulabhorn Science High School Chiang Rai (Alumni of 2022 Korea-Thailand Teacher Exchange Programme) presented their thoughts and skills. Participants appreciated the practical guidance and advice from the vivid stories of alumni. Hosted by the Ministry of Education and organized by APCEIU, 2022 APTE for the second half of 2022 will be started in August for three months. Online APTE is being conducted as a school-to-school exchange, and for the second half, 13 Korean schools are paired with 13 schools from four partner countries. URL: http://www.unescoapceiu.org/post/4527 
Official Launch of ASEAN Roadmap 2025 to Realise a Common Higher Education Space in South-East Asia 2022-07-31 Ha Noi, 27 July 2022 – Higher education is a key modality contributing to ASEAN’s regional development, integration, and connectivity agendas. Today on Wednesday, 27 July 2022, during the 15th SHARE Policy Dialogue in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, the ASEAN Secretariat, the SHARE Programme and the members of the ASEAN Working Group on Higher Education Mobility (AWGHEM) officially launched the ‘Roadmap on the ASEAN Higher Education Space 2025 and its Implementation Plan.’The launch was officiated by H.E. Dr Nguyen Van Phuc, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, Viet Nam, H.E. Mr Giorgio Aliberti, EU Ambassador to Viet Nam, and H.E. Dato’ Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General of ASEAN. The launch was followed by congratulatory remarks by the regional stakeholders including; Mr Lukáš Gajdoš (Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to ASEAN), Mr Philip Masterson (Officer in Charge, SEAMEO RIHED), Dr Choltis Dhirathiti (Executive Director, ASEAN University Network), Mr Libing Wang (Chief, Section for Educational Innovation and Skills Development, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Thailand), and Mr Darren McDermott (SHARE Programme Team Leader).The Roadmap on the ASEAN Higher Education Space 2025 contributes to the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the strengthening of future resilience through enhanced people-to-people connectivity, and improved access and recognition of higher education in the ASEAN region. The Roadmap envisages a resilient and sustainable ASEAN Higher Education Space that enables greater harmonisation and internationalisation of the region’s higher education systems. It is reflective of the new reality for education worldwide, and proposes adaptive and sustainable approaches in responding to the changing context of higher education. This includes augmenting access and inclusion to internationalised higher education provision by students through digital transformation.During the launch of the Roadmap, H.E. Dato’ Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General of ASEAN, stated, “The ASEAN Secretariat recognises the crucial importance of synergy and working together to ensure efficient use of resources and maximise impact of our initiatives in the region. The Roadmap on the ASEAN Higher Education Space and its Implementation Plan is also our attempt to synergise our work, consolidate our efforts, and appreciate the valuable work that has been done by the ASEAN Member States and regional partners on implementing a common higher education [space] in South-East Asia.”H.E. Dr Nguyen Van Phuc, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, Viet Nam stated in his welcoming remark, “Today, I am very glad to witness the launching of the Roadmap on the ASEAN Higher Education Space 2025 and its two-year Implementation Plan. I trust that The Roadmap on the ASEAN Higher Education Space will help enable greater harmonisation and internationalisation of the ASEAN higher education, especially in enhancing people to people connectivity and supporting ASEAN community building.”In his opening remarks, H.E. Giorgio Aliberti, the EU Ambassador to Viet Nam said, “The EU commit to spend at least 10% of financing for education. As part of the Team Europe, the EU will provide stronger and more coordinated support in education, as this will be the key to tackling eradication of poverty, inequalities and discrimination as well as leaving no one behind. Cooperation in education has gradually become an important instrument for the implementation of EU external policies as an indisputable instrument of soft power. Exchange programmes help people to connect worldwide, reaching out to a large number of stakeholders, which help to promote a positive image of Europe in the world, spreading its messages and fundamental values, such as rule of law and human rights. They contribute to shaping the relationship and connecting the EU with other countries and regions, as is the case today with ASEAN.” The Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education was adopted by the 27th ASEAN Summit in 2015. This Declaration initiated the development of a more aligned common space of higher education in South-East Asia, by acknowledging ‘higher education as one of the catalysts in accelerating ASEAN’s economic, political and sociocultural development agenda’ and the need to “embrace [the] diversity and solidarity of the ASEAN Community through enhanced intra-ASEAN mobility of students and scholars.”In the same year, the EU Support to Higher Education in the ASEAN Region (SHARE) Programme was launched. SHARE is the European Union’s flagship higher education programme with ASEAN. Since 2015, the Programme has worked alongside the ASEAN Secretariat and regional partners to strengthen regional cooperation and enhance the quality, regional competitiveness and internationalisation of ASEAN Higher Education institutions and students. In its current phase, it is being implemented by a consortium comprising the British Council, the DAAD, ENQA, and Nuffic. The SHARE Programme initiated a programme of policy dialogues, the first being held in August 2015, to bring together key regional stakeholders, including students, to share information, exchange views, and propose strategies leading to the establishment of a common higher education space in South-East Asia.Successive SHARE policy dialogues with the ASEAN Secretariat and regional partners led to the launch of the ASEAN Working Group on Higher Education Mobility (AWGHEM) exactly one year ago on 27 July 2021 at the 13th SHARE Policy Dialogue. The ASEAN Working Group on Higher Education Mobility is co-chaired by ASEAN Secretariat’s Education, Youth and Sports Division (EYSD) and the ASEAN Foundation with the technical and operational advisory of the SHARE Programme. The members of AWGHEM comprise senior Ministry of Education / Ministry of Higher Education officials of the ten ASEAN Member States and representatives of regional organisations including the ASEAN University Network (AUN), the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED), the ASEAN Quality Assurance Network (AQAN), UNESCO, and the ASEAN Human Development Organisation (AHDO).This event, the 15th SHARE Policy Dialogue, is entitled ‘Envisioning the Future of a Higher Education Common Space in Southeast Asia’. The Dialogue is co-hosted by the Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam and is organised in partnership with the Education, Youth, and Sports Division of the ASEAN Secretariat (EYSD ASEC), SEAMEO RIHED, the ASEAN University Network, and UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education.The Roadmap on the ASEAN Higher Education Space 2025 therefore builds on the significant developments and outcomes achieved since the adoption of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration. The third ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2021 – 2025, adopted by the ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting (ASED) on 31 May 2021, will see the work in this sphere of the ASEAN Socio-cultural Community Blueprint consolidated, contributing to the attainment of the ASEAN Vision 2025, thus furthering the quality, competitiveness, and internationalisation of its higher education institutions. The initiatives under the Roadmap are aligned with ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the strengthening of future resilience through enhanced people to people connectivity, and enhanced improved access to and recognition of higher education in the ASEAN region. In addition, the Roadmap is consistent the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resource Development in the Changing World of Work, the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, the Joint Statement on digital transformation of education systems in ASEAN, the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework.Philip Masterson, Officer in Charge of SEAMEO RIHED, emphasised that, “With a rapidly changing landscape in higher education, there is a crucial need to work closely and quickly together to redefine the common space in regional higher education and put forward a more dynamic platform from which to address tomorrow’s challenges and synergise our efforts. SHARE Policy Dialogue 15 provides an important regional platform in this respect to strengthen higher education partnerships and see the complementary efforts of partners coming together around a shared understanding and vision for a more resilient and sustainable space in higher education that is relevant to the region and ready for the future. SEAMEO RIHED is open and committed to working with our partners towards this goal and for the benefit of the region.”Libing Wang, UNESCO Bangkok confirmed that, “It is in UNESCO’s DNA to promote the internationalisation of higher education as it can contribute to the ultimate mission of building a culture of peace in the minds of men and women. UNESCO hopes that with the implementation of the new roadmap, the ASEAN regional higher education integration process can be inclusive and engaging, aligned with the global consensus, with more technical, scholarship, and financial resources from both internal and external sources to achieve their shared objectives.”Darren McDermott, the Team Leader of the SHARE Programme stated that, “The 15th SHARE Policy Dialogue allows regional higher education partners to continue to explore innovations and initiatives contributing to the transformation of higher education in Southeast Asia. At this two-day discussion regional stakeholders re-affirm their commitment and partnership to support the implementation of the newly launched Roadmap on the ASEAN Higher Education Space 2025 and its Implementation Plan to ensure the continued progress of Southeast Asia on these important initiatives and objectives.” URL: https://bangkok.unesco.org/content/official-launch-asean-roadmap-2025-realise-common-higher-education-space-south-east-asia 
UNESCO and IEBC launch a communication campaign against disinformation and electoral violence in Kenya 2022-07-23 UNESCO together with the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) launch a communication campaign to promote peaceful 2022 elections in Kenya. The 2022 Kenya General Elections set the country for a unique election period. For the first time, more female candidates are at the forefront vying for various top seats in the elections. The country has also seen many youthful candidates coming up at both national and county levels, and Kenyans have been actively engaged in the electoral process on various communication platforms especially on social media. In the past, electoral cycles in Kenya have been marred with violence (online and offline) which make 2022 elections an opportunity to further enrich conversations with peaceful sentiments and call for verification of information to discard all dis- and misinformation that may incite violence and hate. In this context, UNESCO together with key media stakeholders came up with a communication campaign called “Guaranteeing free, plural and fair elections in times of disinformation”. The campaign will contribute to strengthening freedom of expression, access to information and electoral conflict prevention by combating dis- and misinformation, and promoting peace and democracy. In this context a series of short animated visual and audio contents in English, Kiswahili and Sheng, a local dialect of Kiswahili mostly spoken by the Kenyan youth, were produced as follows: Check and Verify information Think Before Clicking Tackling Gender Stereotypes Promotion Against Hate speech for Peaceful Elections Journalists Right to Freedom of Expression Access Reliable Electoral Information Peace Promotion for the Election Day and Post Election Day These messages seek to appeal to young people in a fun yet educative way and cover various aspects of the election cycle spanning from pre, during and post-election period. The messages will be played by both television and radio and shared through WhatsApp and other social media platforms accessible to the youth. Through partnering with the Association of Kenya Community Media Operators, UNESCO will ensure that the campaign reaches communities in 15 remote regions in Kenya. The communication campaign will run from 18 July to 31 August 2022, to ensure the key messages contribute to sustained peace, democracy and combat misinformation. URL: https://bit.ly/3PTRccx 
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed in Tajikistan on Official Visit 2022-07-20 The Deputy Secretary-General visited Dushanbe to open the Second Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference on behalf of the Secretary-General, and met with partners on sustainable development, peace and security, economy and human rights and visited UN initiatives on the ground. The President of Tajikistan H.E. Emomali Rahmon and the Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed opened the second Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference. During the three days of the Water Conference, government delegations, UN entities, civil society organizations, and the private sector are discussing how to catalyze partnerships for achieving progress on the water-related Sustainable Development Goals. The outcomes are expected to feed into the 2023 Summit. After opening the conference, the Deputy Secretary-General attended a signing ceremony of the new Cooperation Framework between the Government of Tajikistan and the UN in Tajikistan for the period of 2023-2026. The Cooperation Framework is a joint document setting out the national development priorities for the next 4-year period. The document was signed by the Prime Minister of Tajikistan H.E. Mr. Kokhir Rasulzoda and the UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan Ms. Sezin Sinanoglu. “I congratulate Tajikistan on its 30-year anniversary of membership in the UN. The successful development of the new Cooperation Framework for the next four-year period reflects our strong partnership. This Cooperation Framework has ambitious aims to improve the lives of people in Tajikistan and create equal opportunities for each person to realize her or his human rights based on equality, justice and respect for human dignity” noted the Deputy Secretary-General in her opening remarks with the Prime Minister. In the afternoon the Deputy Secretary-General visited a primary health center in Rudaki district and learned how the joint UN-EU Global Spotlight initiative supports making health services accessible for the local population affected by gender-based violence. This joint initiative aims to contribute to ending sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls by 2030. The Deputy Secretary-General reaffirmed during the visit that the UN is committed to supporting provision of essential services to all women and girls, with a focus on those most vulnerable, and to date more than 3,500 women have been reached through these mobile health fairs in villages around the country. Access to essential services, including health, legal & social protection, are key to eliminating violence against women and girls. In 2021 the UN in Tajikistan supported 2.2 million individuals with access to various essential health services to achieve SDG 3. From Rudaki District the DSG returned to Dushanbe and visited the Teacher Innovation Center of the Ministry of Education and Science. She met the Minister of Education and Science and observed how the UN supports the Ministry to create innovate educational tools such as recorded educational podcasts for children. The DSG highlighted how COVID-19 showed the world the importance of reforming education and learning for children and adolescents and ensuring its available even in challenging circumstances. In 2021 the UN reached 183,391 children in Tajikistan with innovative digital learning material in partnership with the Ministry. She welcomed the intention of Tajikistan to share its experience in the forthcoming Transforming Education Summit to be convened by the UN Secretary-General in September 2022. URL : https://tajikistan.un.org/en/185233-united-nations-deputy-secretary-general-amina-mohammed-tajikistan-official-visit 
United Nations and the Government of Uzbekistan Launch Joint Programme on Rights of People with Disabilities 2022-07-20 Adham Ikramov, Chairperson of the Inter-ministerial Coordination Council on Disability, the Minister for Development of Sports, Roli Asthana, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan and Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan launched the Joint Programme implemented by UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and OHCHR aimed at transforming of social service delivery by implementing human rights-based approach for children, youth and women with disabilities in Uzbekistan. Promoting the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals has been a key long-standing priority for the UN Country Team in delivering together in Uzbekistan. In June 2021, Uzbekistan ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and reiterated its commitment to human rights and the importance of promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in line with the principles of the Convention, as well as the principle of Leaving No One Behind. The newly launched programme will focus on following priority areas: Strengthening disability mainstreaming within the implementing of country-level UN agencies’ activities to ensure that national development assessments, plans budgets, programmes and monitoring mechanism supported under the SDGs processes advance disability-inclusive development in Uzbekistan. Consolidating the multi-stakeholder commitment to the achievement of CRPD-compliant SDGs through a robust legislative and policy framework, coordination structures, and meaningful participation of organizations with disabilities. Development of accessible and inclusive person-centred and age-appropriate services in the community, aimed at supporting the autonomy and inclusion of children, women and men with disabilities in the society, and prevention of institutionalization, abuse and violence. “Working directly with people with disabilities will build a sustainable, inclusive and transformative future where everyone can realize their potential and move to achieving the central promise of the 2030 Agenda: leaving no one behind,” highlighted Ms. Roli Asthana, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan. “The Joint Programme lays an important foundation to address some immediate priorities for the domestication and the implementation of the CRPD,” said, Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan. “However, collective responsibility of all stakeholders to creating the requisite pre-conditions is required." This joint programme worth $600.000 and will be implemented over the next two years. The joint programme will be implemented in close coordination with the Government, particularly the Agency on Medical and Social Services under the Cabinet of Ministers, different ministries and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities. URL : https://uzbekistan.un.org/en/183209-united-nations-and-government-uzbekistan-launch-joint-programme-rights-people-disabilities 
Расширение участия молодежи Узбекистана в решении вопросов, связанных с изменением климата 2022-07-19 The dust storms that have been observed more frequently in recent years in Uzbekistan are a negative consequence of human activity and are associated with the use of fossil fuels, deforestation and inefficient use of water resources. Human activities also resulted in increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and in the global warming due to the greenhouse effect, which heating the Earth's surface and atmosphere. This affects on the natural ecosystems and humanity.The situation aggravates and requires urgent measures to be taken by the government. In 2021, at the 26th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Uzbekistan has announced its more ambitious nationally determined contributions (NDCs) on to reduce specific greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP to 35% by 2030 from 2010 the base year. To achieve this goal, the country plans to develop a National Low-Carbon Development Strategy, and the role of youth in the implementation of this strategy is fundamental.On May 24, the students of Uzbekistan participated in the climate talks “On the way to a common vision of Uzbek youth in climate action”. The outcome of the talks is a video message of a common statement formulated by the students, which announces their proposals for required climate actions, the role that the youth in achievement of the climate related commitments taken by Uzbekistan at the international level, including greater utilization of renewable energy sources. "Young people in the future will be responsible for decision-making and play a central role in the implementation, operation and promotion of green technologies," the statement says.Previously, the participants of the talks participated in the study tours to renewable energy facilities located in Tashkent region and Tashkent city. Students familiarized with solar power plants generating electrical energy into the grid, which were constructed by the private investors.Moreover, all students passed an online training course on climate change negotiations from which they gained knowledge about the measures and actions undertaken by Uzbekistan towards combating climate change.Students discussed introduction of green technologies, sustainable mechanisms of their financing and strengthening the legal framework. They also noted that the conditions in the country allow scientists to actively develop new technologies related to the production of green energy. For their successful harnessing, the expansion of research and development is required.The climate talks “On the way to a common vision of Uzbek youth in climate action” were organized within the framework of the regional project ‘Policy action for climate security in Central Asia - Phase II’, implemented by UNDP in cooperation with the Center of Hydrometeorological Services (Uzhydromet) of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). URL : https://www.undp.org/uzbekistan/press-releases/enhancing-youth-participation-climate-action 
With the participation of experts from 23 countries, a conference in Saudi Arabia recommends shifting towards skills-based education 2022-07-19 Delegates at a recent Saudi international education conference said science, mathematics, and digital and language skills were the capacities most needed in the 21st century.They also praised Saudi Arabia’s own educational development, especially its Madrasati (My School) platform for e-learning, which helped the kingdom quickly pivot to distance education after schools were closed during the coronavirus pandemic.The International Conference and Exhibition for Education (ICEE 2022), organized by the Saudi Ministry of Education, was held earlier this month in Riyadh. The theme of this year’s conference was “Education in the Face of Crises: Opportunities and Challenges.”Ministers and education experts from more than 260 global and local bodies and representatives from 23 countries’ educational bodies attended.In speeches, panel sessions and workshops, delegates discussed such challenges as the problems that arose during the coronavirus pandemic, and how to keep education systems going during any future pandemic.They also discussed issues such as the globalisation of education, how to align educational innovation with the goals of sustainable development, and how to prepare students for the needs of a changing labour market.Delegates agreed that pandemics meant distance education, whether online or through other means, such as dedicated television and YouTube channels.Building distance-learning systems will require coordination among ministries of education, educational software and computer technology companies, and telecommunications companies, panel speakers said. Developing the digital skills of teaching staffs will also be essential to adapting to new circumstances and crises,they added.Conference RecommendationsSaudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education said the expertise and experiences exchanged in the conference demonstrated the kingdom’s desire to create a globally competitive education system that provided opportunities for local and international participation.The conference included 137 workshops, and 89 agreements and memoranda of cooperation were signed between universities, ministries, international and local institutions, and companies attending.The conference made a set of recommendations, including focusing education systems on students’ life skills at different educational stages, and emphasising the importance of developing critical, creative, positive and future thinking patterns for male and female students through creative programmes and teaching methods.The recommendations also emphasised the importance of having public, technical, and university education policies in line with sustainable development goals and the global trend towards blended education.The participants recommended development programmes based on statistical data and teacher participation. They also noted the shift towards skills-based education and professional certificates, and the need to promote common values of coexistence and tolerance.Delegates also called for private-sector support in educational development, and for modernizing curricula to keep pace with the needs of a rapidly changing labour market.Addressing Saudi education, delegates recommended agile administrative structures, reducing the number of theoretical programmess and specialisations that do not meet the labour market’s needs, and creating legislation to support online communication ethics and information security.Code of Ethics for Artificial Intelligence The conference also supported the international trend towards an ethical charter for the use of artificial intelligence systems in education, investing in digital technologies to help teach people with disabilities, helping teachers to develop e-learning programmes, and creating digital programmes for teachers’ own professional development.The recommendations included enhancing quality standards in educational institutions and training in the use of electronic measurement and evaluation in education.They also called for building artificial intelligence partnerships between the public and private sectors in education, research, development and innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and making applied research available to the economic and social sectors.URL:https://www.al-fanarmedia.org/2022/05/distance-learning-and-skills-based-curricula/ 
Request for Proposal for Sub-regional Study on Global Citizenship Education in Empowering Learners for Peaceful, Tolerant, Inclusive and Safe Societies 2022-07-08 You are invited to submit an offer for Sub-regional Study on Global Citizenship Education in Empowering Learners for Peaceful, Tolerant, Inclusive and Safe Societies in accordance with the present Request for Proposal (RFP) from institution/organization/company, which has been extended from the previous deadline of 30 June 2022 to be 23 July 2022. The RFP consists of this cover page and the following Annexes:Annex I Term of Reference (ToR) Sub-regional Study on Global Citizenship Education in Empowering Learners for Peaceful, Tolerant, Inclusive and Safe Societies Please send your offer comprising of technical proposal and financial proposal to:Email: jakarta@unesco.org(link sends e-mail) Subject: RFP ESD, GCED-PVE & Culture in Education (JAK/QUO/22/ED/017)Deadline: 23 July 2022 Your proposal and any supporting documents must be in English.This letter is not to be construed in any way as an offer to contract with your firm/institution. Your proposal could, however, form the basis for a contract between your company and UNESCO. URL:https://en.unesco.org/news/request-proposal-sub-regional-study-global-citizenship-education-empowering-learners-peaceful 
逾140位教育部长在教科文组织总部绘制教育变革路线图 2022-06-26 Kehinde Olufemi Akinbo/Shutterstock.com UNESCO is to host the Transforming Education Pre-Summit on 28-30 June, a meeting of Ministers of Education, policy and business leaders and youth activists, who come together to build a roadmap to transform education globally. Key opportunity to reflect on educational inequalities This meeting is a precursor to the Transforming Education Summit (TES), to be held in September at the UN General Assembly in New York. This high-level summit was convened by the UN Secretary General to radically change our approach to education systems after COVID-19 – especially for the most marginalised learners who are facing severe learning losses. The meeting will focus on 5 key areas of transformation: Schools, Life-long quality learning, Teachers, Connectivity and Financing education. A Youth-led Global Engagement Day will precede the pre-Summit on 28 June bringing together youth from around the world to center young voices in the conversation and provide opportunities for their perspectives on Transforming education to be heard and acted on. All voices will be heard Participants in the Pre-Summit will include heads of State of Ethiopia and Sierra Leone; 140 Ministers and Vice-Ministers of Education; UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay; EU Commissioner for International Cooperation Jutta Urpilainen; Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed; UNICEF Executive Director Catherine M. Russell; Summit Special Advisor Leonardo Garnier; Co-chair of the Advisory Committee David Sengeh; Youth activists; Champions of education, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Salif Traore (A’salfo - Lead singer of Magic System). Mid-point in the Sustainable Development Goals Agenda This is the moment to reverse the historical slide resulting from pandemic, climate and conflict disruptions, and to seek transformational changes around schooling, learning, teaching, technology, and financing of education. This meeting comes at a critical time when government spending on education everywhere is not keeping up with the growing crisis in learning. An estimated 40 percent of low- and lower-middle income countries have reduced their spending on education with the onset of the pandemic in 2020, with an average decline in real spending of 13.5 percent. Further, in 2020, 43 bilateral donors decreased their aid to education, while households in the poorest countries are picking up 39% of the total cost of education compared to just 16% in high-income countries, according to a report released today by the World Bank, UNESCO’s Global Education Report and UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics. As the world slowly and painfully emerges from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which deeply affected education, and exactly midway through the 15-year period allocated to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the time is right to take stock of where the world is with the Sustainable Education Goal—and to act. The pre-summit aims to prioritize quality education as a global public good, just like clean air and water, health and safety. Programme of the event Watch the event live For accreditation, please complete this online form. URL:https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/transforming-education-over-140-ministers-education-unesco-draw-roadmap 
UNDP trains rural youth of Karakalpakstan in public planning 2022-06-04 April 4, 2022. Kungrad district, Karakalpakstan. On March 29, 31 and April 4, UNDP in Uzbekistan held trainings to enhance the capacities of rural youth in Bozatau, Muynak and Kungrad districts on public planning and decision-making. This initiative is also aimed at studying the needs of the rural population in pilot territories for the integration of Sustainable Development Goals on the ground. About 90 young people took part in the trainings aimed at: Raising awareness of the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National SDGs and localization of SDGs in rural areas; Dissemination of knowledge and skills on the use of methods and tools for rapid assessment of the community; Assisting local youth in identifying community problems and setting the priorities; Increase the potential of rural youth in public planning and decision-making. Local authorities play a major and practical role in the implementation of the SDGs and, as noted during the meetings, they make a significant contribution to the implementation of global and national SDGs. Participants gained knowledge and skills in using methods and tools for rapid community assessment, local youth learned to conduct their own research to identify problems and determine priorities in their implementation in the field of social infrastructure and community digitalization. In the practical part of the training, which took place in the format of group work, participants were introduced a "Community Development Plan" to fill out according to a certain sample, which in the future will allow young people to participate in the processes of public planning and decision-making. The trainings are organized within the framework of the Joint Programme of UNDP, UNFPA and FAO "Unleashing young people’s and vulnerable citizens’ creativity and innovation by strengthening their adaptive capacity to address the economic and food insecurities in the exposed communities of the Aral Sea region" in partnership with local khokimiyats and district divisions of the Youth Agency of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. URL: https://www.undp.org/uzbekistan/press-releases/undp-trains-rural-youth-karakalpakstan-public-planning