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July 19, 2019
High-Level Political Forum at UN Headquarters in New York concludes that Education is Everyone's Responsibility.
Photo: UN Secretary-General, António Guterres (right), meets with Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 16 July 2019. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: Group photo of participants of the 57th UN Geneva International Graduate Study Programme during the closing ceremony. The participants are displaying the certificates awarded to them. 12 July 2019. United Nations, Geneva. UN Photo/ Jean-Marc Ferré.
New York, 19 July 2019 — The voices of governments, donors, international organizations, youth, and teachers struck a universal chord in calling for stepped-up action to achieve relevant, equitable and inclusive quality education. They were participating in an event organized by UNESCO, the Group of Friends for Education and the SDG-Education 2030 Steering Committee during the High-Level Political Forum at UN Headquarters in New York.
“Education is a fundamental right and the supporting structure for the entire 2030 Agenda,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, opening the event. “It is urgent that we act together and step up efforts to invest more in education.” “Governments hold the primary responsibility, but civil society, multilateral and international actors must join their efforts to achieve this common goal,” she said. Ms. Azoulay asserted that UNESCO would continue to make education a top priority to accomplish its global coordination and monitoring role.
Government representatives gave examples of how Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education is influencing national policy, demonstrating its relevance to all contexts. The Minister of Research and Higher Education of Norway, Ms. Iselin Nybo, proposed actions to integrate sustainable development across all school subjects and university programs. To achieve the SDGs and build better societies, she called for the “democratization of knowledge” to ensure that the fruits of research are widely shared.
Argentina has placed a priority on ‘leaving no one behind” through affirmative actions at all levels, explained Oscar Ghillione, the country’s deputy Minister of Education. Having hosted the first G20 conference of education ministers in 2018, Argentina is also striving to “place education at the heart of the global debate,” he said.
Jaime Saavedra, head of Education Global Practice at the World Bank, called for a “completely different level of political commitment.” He warned that “many kids are in learning poverty” as proven by assessments showing that over half cannot understand a simple story. “This is morally unacceptable,” he said.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, wrapped up the event by stressing urgency, accountability, solidarity, and political engagement to accelerate global action for education.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
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