“I think the direction in which we need to go is for us to restructure education,” said Farida Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to education.

“I want it to be open. I want there to be much more appreciation of our artistic expressions. Education has to be rounded. It has to be based on human rights and it needs to explore and enable everyone to reach the full potential as human beings, whatever that may be.” Shaheed discussed the future of the human right to education and other issues as part of Voices of Dignity, a series of interviews with thought leaders and experts on the UN Human Rights Podcast. 

Education is a fundamental human right. It is a key factor in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is affecting millions of people worldwide. Education can also address the root causes of hate speech and sensitize learners to its forms and consequences online and offline. However, there are still 250 million children and youth who are out of school, and 763 million illiterate adults. As the world is seeing a surge of violent conflicts paralleled by an alarming rise of discrimination, racism, and hate speech the International Day of Education (24 Jan) will be celebrated under the theme “learning for lasting peace”.  

Television has come a long way from being just a one-way channel for broadcast and cable content. In the 21st century, it has evolved into a multifunctional device that offers a wide range of multimedia and interactive content, including streaming videos, music, and internet browsing. Despite the emergence of different platforms for audiovisual content consumption and the ever-evolving technology, TV remains an important tool for communication. On World Television Day (21 November) we celebrate that this telecommunication medium has become a symbol of connection and globalization.

UNESCO’s General Conference meets every two years to determine the policies and main lines of the work of the Organization. This year’s high-level segment will focus on the commons - the cultural and natural resources shared by all members of society – and how they should be thought of and protected in the context of the major disruptions the world is currently experiencing. An inaugural lecture and a high-level session on partnerships will address climate disruption and digital transformation in a way that benefits people and the planet.

Education is a fundamental human right. For children and youth caught up in emergency situations and armed conflict, education provides not only continuity of learning, but also a sense of normalcy and the key to a different future. On the International Day to Protect Education from Attacks we must remember that assaults against schools can have serious, long-term physical and psychological repercussions for students and teachers. Governments should ensure that places of education remain safe havens for children and education personnel.

Teachers, schools, families, communities, policy-makers and young people all have essential roles to play in preventing and responding to school-related, gender-based violence (SRGBV), affirms UNESCO. In this video, SRGBV prevention advocates from Asia-Pacific and beyond, share their diverse yet complementary perspectives on why efforts to #EndSRGBV and ensure that all education settings are #SafeToLearn require that all actors work together.

The pandemic deepened pre-existing gender inequalities, but Gloria is advocating for girls continued education through UNESCO’s Keeping girls in the picture  campaign.  

A new global UNESCO report on technology in education highlights the lack of appropriate governance and regulation. Countries are urged to set their own terms for the way technology is designed and used in education so that it never replaces in-person, teacher-led instruction, and supports the shared objective of quality education for all. The report calls to put the learner front and centre while making sure that the focus is on learning outcomes, not on the technology itself. The global launch of the new 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report takes place on 26-27 July in hybrid format.

Technological advancements and shifting labour market dynamics increasingly call for agile and adaptable skill sets. It is crucial that young people are well equipped with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. On this World Youth Skills Day (July 15), let’s unite in recognizing the potential of young people as catalysts for change and commit to providing them with the skills and opportunities they need to build a prosperous and sustainable world for all. Together, we can shape a brighter future in which no young person is left behind.

Leaders across the globe will come together at the Education Cannot Wait High-Level Financing Conference to ensure every child, everywhere, is offered a quality education.

Globally, 40 per cent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand. A multilingual education starts based on the mother tongue and gradually introduces other languages. This approach bridges the gap between home and school for those whose mother tongue is different from the language of instruction. International Mother Language Day recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion and the SDG focus of leaving no one behind. This year’s observance will explore and debate the potential of multilingualism to transform education.

Logic, as the investigation on the principles of reasoning, has been studied by many civilizations throughout history. Since its earliest formulations, logic has played an important role in the development of philosophy and the sciences. World Logic Day aims at fostering international cooperation, promoting the development of logic, in both research and teaching, supporting the activities of associations, universities and other institutions involved with logic, and enhancing the understanding of logic and its implications for science, technology and innovation.

Maryam (13) in one of 70 Palestine refugee students who returned to Ein el Tel Palestine refugee camp in Syria and attends an UNRWA school in Aleppo. Many students and teachers were anxious when the schools reopened in Syria and worried about the restrictive COVID-19 preventative measures. The staff at the school came up with a project to help them cope. Together, the students prepared coloured papers with DOs and DON’Ts, assembled them and all created their own “COVID-19 magazine”. They also included messages on how to support each other and how to respect and follow the preventative measures necessary to stay protected from the virus and make sure it doesn’t spread.

UNICEF's Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, has issued a statement underlining the importance of keeping schools open or prioritizing them in reopening plans: “Despite overwhelming evidence of the impact of school closures on children, and despite increasing evidence that schools are not drivers of the pandemic, too many countries have opted to keep schools closed, some for nearly a year. The cost of closing schools – which at the peak of pandemic lockdowns affected 90 per cent of students worldwide and left more than a third of schoolchildren with no access to remote education – has been devastating."

10 playful activities for children with disabilities

Keeping little ones busy can be a full-time job. The best way for children to learn, no matter their abilities, is through play. Here are 10 stimulating activities that you can do indoors with your child. Be patient, listen and enjoy spending time and learning together!