On the occasion of the second International Day of Play, Right To Play International are hosting a virtual mini-summit exploring the power of play to support children’s learning and well-being at all ages and stages.

This online experience will include energizing play activations, as well as insights from a range of play specialists. Keynote and expert panels will include community-based practitioners, local actors, and young people themselves who will share their knowledge on topics including playful parenting, play in the early years, play-based teaching and learning, as well as play-based psychosocial support in both development and humanitarian contexts.
 

• When: Tuesday, June 10th, 2025
• Time: 8am EST - 10:30 EST (a health break will occur mid-event)
• Where: Zoom

Please register here by 12pm EST, Monday, June 9th.

Confirmed moderators and speakers include:

Tricia Young (she/her), Director - Moving Minds Alliance
Ardine (she/her), Child Campaigner Bali - Children & Youth Advisory Network (CYAN) and Save the Children Indonesia
Ramya Vivekanandan (she/her), Senior Education Specialist/Thematic Lead for Teaching & Learning - Global Partnership for Education
Ellen Fesseha (she/her), Play Specialist - Right To Play International
Michael Kassa, PhD (he/him), Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Science & Mathematics Education -  Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia  
Michelle Cruickshank (she/her), Child Development Lead - Grand Challenges Canada
Rebeca (she/her), Chair - Child & Youth Advisory Board (CAYAB) and Child & Youth Friendly Governance Project
Hollyn Romeyn (she/her), Regional Education Adviser East and Southern Africa - Norwegian Refugee Council
Dr. Beide Melaku (he/him), Associate Professor, Applied Developmental Psychology - Kotebe University of Education in Addis Ababa
Rev. Sr. Secunda Kobusingye (she/her), Head Teacher, St Joseph's Kyabirukwa School, Host Community of Nakivale Settlement, Isingiro District, Uganda
Ms. Spera Atuhairwe (she/her), Country Director, BRAC Uganda
Lobaba Gasamelsayed (she/her), MHPSS Coordinator- Save the Children International Sudan
Racha Nasreddine (she/her),  Country Director -  Right To Play Lebanon

On the occasion of the second International Day of Play, Right To Play International are hosting a virtual mini-summit exploring the power of play to support children’s learning and well-being at all ages and stages.

This online experience will include energizing play activations, as well as insights from a range of play specialists. Keynote and expert panels will include community-based practitioners, local actors, and young people themselves who will share their knowledge on topics including playful parenting, play in the early years, play-based teaching and learning, as well as play-based psychosocial support in both development and humanitarian contexts.
 

• When: Tuesday, June 10th, 2025
• Time: 8am EST - 10:30 EST (a health break will occur mid-event)
• Where: Zoom

Please register here by 12pm EST, Monday, June 9th.

Confirmed moderators and speakers include:

Tricia Young (she/her), Director - Moving Minds Alliance
Ardine (she/her), Child Campaigner Bali - Children & Youth Advisory Network (CYAN) and Save the Children Indonesia
Ramya Vivekanandan (she/her), Senior Education Specialist/Thematic Lead for Teaching & Learning - Global Partnership for Education
Ellen Fesseha (she/her), Play Specialist - Right To Play International
Michael Kassa, PhD (he/him), Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Science & Mathematics Education -  Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia  
Michelle Cruickshank (she/her), Child Development Lead - Grand Challenges Canada
Rebeca (she/her), Chair - Child & Youth Advisory Board (CAYAB) and Child & Youth Friendly Governance Project
Hollyn Romeyn (she/her), Regional Education Adviser East and Southern Africa - Norwegian Refugee Council
Dr. Beide Melaku (he/him), Associate Professor, Applied Developmental Psychology - Kotebe University of Education in Addis Ababa
Rev. Sr. Secunda Kobusingye (she/her), Head Teacher, St Joseph's Kyabirukwa School, Host Community of Nakivale Settlement, Isingiro District, Uganda
Ms. Spera Atuhairwe (she/her), Country Director, BRAC Uganda
Lobaba Gasamelsayed (she/her), MHPSS Coordinator- Save the Children International Sudan
Racha Nasreddine (she/her),  Country Director -  Right To Play Lebanon

The Teacher Task Force is pleased to announce its participation in the upcoming webinar “Adult Educators as Lifelong Learners and Facilitators of Lifelong Learning,” hosted by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) within the framework of the joint research project Teachers as Lifelong Learners, in collaboration with Shanghai Normal University. The webinar will take place on 25 June from 13:00 to 15:00 CET.

Carlos Vargas, Head of the Teacher Task Force Secretariat and Chief of UNESCO's Section for Teacher Development, will join the event to speak on the topic of global teacher policies and the question of adult educators, drawing on the Teacher Task Force’s extensive work advocating for teacher policy development worldwide.

In today’s rapidly evolving societies, educators - especially adult educators - face a multitude of shifting demands. They not only facilitate knowledge acquisition, but also support learners’ personal development, encourage critical thinking, and adapt to diverse needs and contexts. This webinar will offer a space to rethink the role of adult educators through the lens of lifelong learning, and to explore how policies, technologies and training can better support their professional development.

Objectives of the webinar include:

• Exploring practical strategies and innovations that empower adult educators to be both users and facilitators of lifelong learning;

• Discussing the implementation and impact of global and national policy initiatives related to adult education;

• Identifying opportunities for adult educators to engage in continuous professional learning, including through the use of emerging technologies.

Programme Highlights:

• Opening remarks and personal testimony from an adult educator

• Presentation of UIL’s thematic paper on adult educators as lifelong learners

• Intervention by Carlos Vargas on global teacher policies and adult educators

• Case studies and research from Latin America, Kenya, and India

• Moderated Q&A and closing reflections

This webinar will bring together policymakers, researchers and practitioners to share insights and innovations that elevate the status and capacity of adult educators in lifelong learning ecosystems.

Click here for more information and to register.

A webinar titled Low-tech, high impact: Training teachers where they are - Scalable Mobile-based Teacher Training Solutions: Lessons Learned and Perspectives will take place on 4 June at 15:00 CET (GMT+2) via Zoom. 

Organised by the International Teacher Task Force, its Thematic Group on Digital & AI, co-led by MESHGuides and Digital Promise, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through GIZ, the webinar aims to showcase innovative low-tech training approaches that enable in-service teacher professional development in low-resource and crisis-affected contexts.

Click here to register for the webinar.

Background
With an estimated global need for 44 million new teachers by 2030 to meet SDG 4 targets, effective and scalable training solutions are critical. Conventional models often fail to reach teachers in remote or crisis-affected areas. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the urgency of equipping teachers with foundational and 21st-century skills needed for resilient and inclusive education systems. Low-tech mobile solutions, such as SMS and WhatsApp-based training, offer flexible, accessible, and scalable opportunities that meet teachers where they are.

Speakers and programme highlights

• Carlos Vargas, Head of the Teacher Task Force Secretariat, will provide the welcome and background introduction.

• A representative from GIZ will introduce the presented solutions.

• ProFuturo, a leader in digital teacher training, will share insights and lessons learned from implementing teacher training programs in low-resource contexts.

• The Future Teacher Kit (a joint initiative by GIZ, UNESCO, and UNICEF) will be presented, highlighting mobile-supported teacher training tailored for remote and crisis-affected settings. This segment will include contributions from the Jamaican Teaching Council, Ministry of Education Ecuador, UNESCO Ecuador, UNESCO Jamaica, and UNICEF’s Helsinki Global Innovation Learning Hub.

The webinar will also include Q&A sessions and a moderated discussion facilitated by the co-leads of the TTF Thematic Group on Digital Education and AI. Discussion topics will address key future skills for teachers, challenges and successful strategies in teacher training, as well as barriers and enablers for scaling mobile-based approaches and partnerships.

Objectives

• To showcase effective low-tech teacher training models that support professional development in challenging environments.
• To share implementation experiences and lessons learned from diverse contexts.
• To facilitate dialogue among stakeholders, including education ministries, teacher training institutions, development partners, and civil society.
• To explore practical challenges and opportunities in scaling mobile-based training and policy implications.

Expected outcomes
Participants are expected to gain a deeper understanding of mobile-based teacher training approaches and to be inspired to adapt and scale such models in their own national contexts.

Additional information
The webinar will be conducted in English only; interpretation will not be available.

Registration
Please register here.

A webinar titled Low-tech, high impact: Training teachers where they are - Scalable Mobile-based Teacher Training Solutions: Lessons Learned and Perspectives will take place on 4 June at 15:00 CET (GMT+2) via Zoom. 

Organised by the International Teacher Task Force, its Thematic Group on Digital & AI, co-led by MESHGuides and Digital Promise, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through GIZ, the webinar aims to showcase innovative low-tech training approaches that enable in-service teacher professional development in low-resource and crisis-affected contexts.

Click here to register for the webinar.

Background
With an estimated global need for 44 million new teachers by 2030 to meet SDG 4 targets, effective and scalable training solutions are critical. Conventional models often fail to reach teachers in remote or crisis-affected areas. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the urgency of equipping teachers with foundational and 21st-century skills needed for resilient and inclusive education systems. Low-tech mobile solutions, such as SMS and WhatsApp-based training, offer flexible, accessible, and scalable opportunities that meet teachers where they are.

Speakers and programme highlights

• Carlos Vargas, Head of the Teacher Task Force Secretariat, will provide the welcome and background introduction.

• A representative from GIZ will introduce the presented solutions.

• ProFuturo, a leader in digital teacher training, will share insights and lessons learned from implementing teacher training programs in low-resource contexts.

• The Future Teacher Kit (a joint initiative by GIZ, UNESCO, and UNICEF) will be presented, highlighting mobile-supported teacher training tailored for remote and crisis-affected settings. This segment will include contributions from the Jamaican Teaching Council, Ministry of Education Ecuador, UNESCO Ecuador, UNESCO Jamaica, and UNICEF’s Helsinki Global Innovation Learning Hub.

The webinar will also include Q&A sessions and a moderated discussion facilitated by the co-leads of the TTF Thematic Group on Digital Education and AI. Discussion topics will address key future skills for teachers, challenges and successful strategies in teacher training, as well as barriers and enablers for scaling mobile-based approaches and partnerships.

Objectives

• To showcase effective low-tech teacher training models that support professional development in challenging environments.
• To share implementation experiences and lessons learned from diverse contexts.
• To facilitate dialogue among stakeholders, including education ministries, teacher training institutions, development partners, and civil society.
• To explore practical challenges and opportunities in scaling mobile-based training and policy implications.

Expected outcomes
Participants are expected to gain a deeper understanding of mobile-based teacher training approaches and to be inspired to adapt and scale such models in their own national contexts.

Additional information
The webinar will be conducted in English only; interpretation will not be available.

Registration
Please register here.

Africa Teachers Webinar Series

The series is co-sponsored by the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities, the African Union, the European Union’s Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa, and the Global Partnership for Education’s Knowledge and Innovation Exchange, a joint endeavor with the International Development Research Centre. The webinar series is organized by UNESCO’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa, which leads the GPE KIX Africa 19 Hub and is a partner in the European Union’s Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa.

Leveraging Technology for Teacher Professional Development

Thursday, 13th March 2025, 3 PM East African Time (GMT+3)

Objectives:

• Explore innovative ways to use technology in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for teachers.
• Learn from experts from UNESCO, EdTech Hub, South African Council for Educators, and leading institutions across Africa!
• Attend all three webinars and earn a digital certificate of participation

Key speakers:

• Hannah Simmons, Tanzania Country Lead, EdTech Hub, EU RTIA grantee
• Dr. Shafika Isaacs, Chief of Section, Technology and AI, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France
• Prof Nkobi Pansiri, Head of Department, University of Botswana & Consultant to South African Council for Educators (SACE)
•  Associate Prof Gabriel Job, Head, Educational Technology Department, National Open University of Nigeria
• Dr. Lekopanye Lacic Tladi, Senior Lecturer, Botswana Open University
• Prof. Steve Nwokeocha, University of Calabar, Nigeria & AFTRA

Links: 

• Registration link
• IICBA website

Africa Teachers Webinar Series

The series is co-sponsored by the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities, the African Union, the European Union’s Regional Teacher Initiative for Africa, and the Global Partnership for Education’s Knowledge and Innovation Exchange, a joint endeavor with the International Development Research Centre. The webinar series is organized by UNESCO’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa, which leads the GPE KIX Africa 19 Hub and is a partner in the European Union’s Regional Teacher Initiative for Africa.

Designing and Implementing Effective Continuous Professional Development Programs for Teachers

Thursday, February 27, 2025, 3 PM East African Time (GMT+3)

Key Speakers:

• Dr. Ebby Mubanga, Deputy President, AFTRA & Registrar, Teaching Council of Zambia
• Dr. Victoria Kisaakye Kanobe, Senior Project Coordinator, UNESCO IICBA
•  Prof. Betty Ezati, Chairperson of Taskforce, Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education
• Dr. Astérie Nyirahabimana, Assistant Lecturer, University of Rwanda, Kigali
• Dr. Christian Addai Poku, Registrar of the National Teaching Council, Ghana

Links: 

• Registration link
• IICBA website

In the build-up to the Global Disability Summit 2025 to be held on 2-3 April in Germany, the Inclusion and Equity in Teacher Policies and Practices Thematic Group are delighted to invite you to attend three knowledge exchange learning sessions on policies and practices on teachers with disabilities. 

This is the last of three learning sessions. The session will be interactive and participatory. Three members will make short presentations on the topic and participants will be invited to share their experience, evidence and learning in breakout rooms. The session will be facilitated in English; however, we will welcome if there any volunteers who would like to facilitate breakout sessions in different languages.  We will use Team's chat function which allows to translate the conversation in different languages.

 In this session, we are going to focus our discussion on policies and practices on continuing professional development opportunities and career paths for teachers with disabilities. 

• What kinds of opportunities are provided for people with disabilities to participate in teacher training programmes? 
• What are the key challenges and gaps in policy related to supporting teachers with disabilities and their professional growth? 
• What recommendations can be made to better support teachers with disabilities and promote greater inclusion and accessibility in their teaching contexts?  
• What roles Edtech can play in increasing access of teachers with disabilities to continuing professional development? 

As an output of this session, we will produce a knowledge brief.

Please register here.

In the build-up to Global Disability Summit 2025 to be held on 2-3 April in Germany, the Inclusion and Equity in Teacher Policies and Practices Thematic Group are delighted to invite you to attend three knowledge exchange learning sessions on policies and practices on teachers with disabilities. 

This is the second of three learning sessions. The session will be interactive and participatory. Three members will make short presentations on the topic and participants will be invited to share their experience, evidence and learning in breakout rooms. The session will be facilitated in English ; however, we will welcome if there any volunteers who would like to facilitate breakout sessions in different languages. We will use Team's chat function which allows to translate the conversation in different languages. 

 In the second session, we are going to focus our discussion on recruitment and deployment of teachers with disabilities.  

• What recruitment policies and programmes/initiatives have been effective for increasing the number of teachers with disabilities? 
• What considerations are made for teachers with disabilities when they are recruited and deployed? 

As an output of this session, we will produce a knowledge brief. 

 Please register here.