Teachers are the backbone of education systems and the key to reaching learning goals, regardless of context and situation. Within the COVID-19 crisis, they are on the front line in ensuring that...
This blog post is co-authored by Sophia Ashipala, Head for Education at the African Union Commission, and Quentin Wodon, Director of UNESCO’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa.
Education remains a top priority for Africa. As part of work carried under the Year of Education in 2024, the African Union conducted a review of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025 (CESA 16-25) and prepared a new strategy for 2026-2035 (CESA 26-35). The new strategy was approved at the African Union’s summit in February 2025 and is now available on the website of the African Union. Separately, the African Union also approved a new strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), also now available online.
CESA 26-35 comprises of four parts: (1) A brief investment case; (2) A review of selected challenges; (3) A framework for action; and (4) A discussion on governance, communications, and monitoring. Part I for the investment case considers (i) Human rights, peace and sustainable development, including considerations related to gender, equity, and inclusion; (ii) Health and social benefits; and (iii) Labor market benefits. Part II reviews progress (or the lack thereof) for schooling and learning, as well as the links between both. It also provides a summary of key findings from the CESA 16-25 review. Part III is the core of the strategy. It provides a framework for action with six strategic areas of focus and 20 objectives. Part IV is about governance, communications, and data for monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
Teachers are at the core of CESA 26-35, with three objectives under the second strategic area in the strategy that focuses on teachers. These three objectives are: (1) Improve teacher policies, education, professional development, and accountability; (2) Increase the attractiveness of the teaching profession; and (3) Invest in school leadership including the share of female leaders where needed. The other five strategic areas under CESA 26-35 focus on (i) Resources and the enabling environment; (ii) Pre-primary to secondary education, with a focus on early learning and foundational, socio-emotional, and 21st century and labor market skills; (iii) Higher Education and TVET; (iv) Second chance programs and lifelong learning; and (v) Gender, equity, and inclusion. Several cross-cutting themes are also mentioned, including (1) digitalization and AI; (2) greening education; and (3) education in emergencies.
A simple visual aims to facilitate communications around strategic areas. The Figure below conveys the idea that education systems must be built, like a house or structure. The first two strategic areas, including the area focusing on teachers, are the foundations, followed by three pillars combined into one strategic area. These pillars relate to the foundational, socio-emotional, and 21st century skills that learners must acquire, especially through pre-primary to secondary education. Those skills also need to be emphasized at higher levels of learning, as well as in second chance programs and lifelong learning, but the period from pre-primary to secondary education is essential. Next come educational opportunities through Higher Education and TVET, and programs for children and youth out of school and for lifelong learning for adults. The roof and outside walls that encompass the whole system must ensure gender-transformative approaches, equity, and inclusion. Finally, the text at the base of the structure highlights a few critical mega-trends that education systems must adapt and respond to.
In total, CESA 26-35 has 20 objectives, a smaller than the Action Areas (AAs) in the previous strategy for 2016 to 2025 (CESA 16-25), in part to convey prioritization. For each objective, the strategy provides a brief explanation of the importance of the objective and links to guidance related to promising interventions and approaches for achieving the objective. UNESCO IICBA played an important role in working with the African Union to draft the strategy and conduct an extensive consultation process before its approval.
As CESA 26-35 is now approved and available online, the next steps will consist in planning its dissemination and implementation. A first implementation meeting with members of the CESA task force was organized in Nairobi in May 2025. On matters related to teachers, the CESA teacher professional development cluster is in the process of providing additional guidance. For example, along CESA 26-35, a separate strategy was adopted by the African Union on mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS) for teachers in Africa.
In future articles for this newsletter, we will provide more details on the MHPSS strategy and the broader implementation plans for CESA 26-35, especially as they pertain to the teaching profession in Africa.
The Teacher Task Force will participate in the seminar "Empowering Teachers: Building Sustainable Societies," taking place on 3 October 2024, in Abu Dhabi. Organized by the Regional Center for Educational Planning (RCEP) and Trends Research & Advisory, the seminar will address how empowering teachers is key to building sustainable and inclusive societies.
The RCEP, established in partnership with UNESCO and the UAE, plays a critical role in developing capacities for educational planning in Arab countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Aligned with World Teachers' Day, the seminar will focus on enhancing teacher professional development, integrating sustainability into education, and sharing innovative approaches to teacher career advancement.
Carlos Vargas, Head of the Teacher Task Force Secretariat, will present key findings from UNESCO's recent Global Report on Teachers, focusing on the support needed for teachers to thrive. The event will bring together teachers, policymakers, educational managers, and key stakeholders from across the region to discuss strategies and share best practices for supporting teachers.
Seminar objectives:
Agenda highlights:
By contributing to this dialogue, the Teacher Task Force continues its mission to elevate teacher voices and build sustainable educational systems globally.
On 26 September 2024, UNESCO will host the ESD-Net 2030 Learning Webinar on Learning, Teaching, and Assessment for ESD Competencies. This virtual session will focus on how educators can effectively integrate ESD competencies into teaching practices, learning outcomes, and assessment methods.
The webinar will explore innovative pedagogical approaches and assessment strategies that support the development of sustainability competencies in education. Key topics will include:
Participants will learn from case studies and examples of good practices from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, with a focus on holistic education that empowers learners to make informed decisions for sustainable futures.
Interpretation will be available in English and Russian.
Further details and registration can be found at this link.
Image credit: Cat Act Art/Shutterstock.com
On 26 September 2024, UNESCO will host the ESD-Net 2030 Learning Webinar on Learning, Teaching, and Assessment for ESD Competencies. This virtual session will focus on how educators can effectively integrate ESD competencies into teaching practices, learning outcomes, and assessment methods.
The webinar will explore innovative pedagogical approaches and assessment strategies that support the development of sustainability competencies in education. Key topics will include:
Participants will learn from case studies and examples of good practices from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, with a focus on holistic education that empowers learners to make informed decisions for sustainable futures.
Interpretation will be available in English and Russian.
Further details and registration can be found at this link.
Image credit: Cat Act Art/Shutterstock.com
From 2 to 5 September 2024, Digital Learning Week will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This annual event brings together global leaders in digital education, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to explore the intersection of digital transformation and green transitions in education.
The focus this year is on fostering a human-centered, climate-friendly approach to AI in education, with a special focus on teachers. The key themes of the programme include:
Teacher-Specific Sessions
Educators will find valuable sessions tailored to enhance their understanding and application of AI in teaching:
Other highlights of the programme include:
Digital Learning Week 2024 will take place in-person with selected sessions livestreamed. Interpretation will be provided in English and French.
For more information and to consult the concept note, visit the UNESCO Digital Learning Week website or contact dlw@unesco.org.
Click here to learn more about UNESCO’s work on Digital Learning and Transformation and AI in Education.
Photo credit: Rich T Photos/Shutterstock.com
From 2 to 5 September 2024, Digital Learning Week will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This annual event brings together global leaders in digital education, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to explore the intersection of digital transformation and green transitions in education.
The focus this year is on fostering a human-centered, climate-friendly approach to AI in education, with a special focus on teachers. The key themes of the programme include:
Teacher-Specific Sessions
Educators will find valuable sessions tailored to enhance their understanding and application of AI in teaching:
Other highlights of the programme include:
Digital Learning Week 2024 will take place in-person with selected sessions livestreamed. Interpretation will be provided in English and French.
For more information and to consult the concept note, visit the UNESCO Digital Learning Week website or contact dlw@unesco.org.
Click here to learn more about UNESCO’s work on Digital Learning and Transformation and AI in Education.
Photo credit: Rich T Photos/Shutterstock.com
On 17 June, the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee will convene its Leaders’ meeting to conduct the first Transforming Education Summit (TES) Stocktake exercise. This event aims to take stock of country progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and showcase transformative actions undertaken by Member States. It will set the stage for two global milestone events: the Summit of the Future on 22-23 September in New York and the Global Education Meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil, on 31 October - 1 November, following the G20 Education Ministers Meeting.
A key focus of the 17 June meeting will be the High-Level Dialogue parallel session on the teaching profession. This dedicated session will focus on the Recommendations of the UNSG High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession. It will give the floor to policy-makers to share their national perspectives on the implementation of these recommendations, highlighting the opportunities for action they have been able to seize, the challenges they have encountered or are considering, and the areas where they believe regional or international cooperation is critical. Finally, the session will be an opportunity to engage countries in working on national roadmaps for implementing the recommendations of the High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession.
The session will also provide an opportunity for the Teacher Task Force to launch its 2024 advocacy campaign, issuing a call to action to implement the High-Level Panel's recommendations to tackle the global teacher shortage.
This June event will set the stage for accelerated actions towards SDG 4, highlighting the importance and urgency of transforming education as we approach the 2030 deadline.
Visit the official event webpage for updates.
30 November - 12 December 2023
Consult the list of UNESCO education events tackling teacher capacity-building and greening teacher training.
UNESCO is actively involved in accelerating climate change education and will showcase its efforts at the global stage during this year's United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023. This international event provides a valuable platform for securing commitments and actions from countries regarding climate change education.
hroughout the 13-day event, UNESCO will co-host a series of events highlighting the essential role of education in getting every learner climate-ready. In collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Education UNESCO as secretariat to the Greening Education Partnership will establish the first historical Greening Education Hub, featuring over 200 sessions organized to promote concrete actions and solutions through education. Youth members of the Partnership will also play a leading role in the dialogue and paving the next steps.
Objectives
The following is an overview of UNESCO-related events taking place at COP28.
30 November-12 December, Green Zone, Expo City, Dubai, UAE
The inaugural Greening Education Hub, known as the Greening Education Hub: LEGACY – إ ث from the Land of Zayed, will be set up in the green zone. The hub is hosted by the UAE Ministry of Education, co-organised with the Greening Education Partnership, supported by its UNESCO secretariat. The space and the corresponding events will emphasize education's pivotal role in addressing the climate crisis.
The hub is designed around the four action pillars of the Greening Education Partnership: greening schools, greening curriculum, greening teacher training and education system's capacities, and greening communities.
The programming will include:
8 December 2023, Green Zone, Expo City, Dubai, UAE
High-level session on greening education
On the occasion of Youth and Education Day, UNESCO in partnership with the Ministry of Education of UAE will organize a session focusing on youth-based action to green education. Key stakeholders will engage in discussions on accelerating green education across the world. The objective of this event is to secure political support and strengthen the global commitment on the common agenda for education and climate change at COP28 and beyond.
During the event, The Declaration on the Common Agenda for Education and Climate Change at COP28, which was drafted on input from the GEP members countries, will be presented. It aims to strengthen and renew the country commitments and actions at COP28 and beyond on the role of education in adapting and mitigating climate change and the need for more investment to accelerate greening education globally.
The high-level session will be followed by technical concurrent sessions on boosting the objectives of the Greening Education Partnership and accelerating action on the four pillars. Members working on each pillar will gather to discuss next steps and activities for achieving the Partnerships’ mission.
9 December 2023, Green zone, Expo City Dubai, UAE
This session will focus on reflections on the achievements of the member groups working on the four pillars and discuss the way forward, highlighting elements in the annual report and key data and evidence from the baseline survey report.
12 December 14:00-15:00 UTC+1
This session marks the end of the second season of UNFCCC-UNESCO webinars. It will review COP28, discussing what we've learned, achieved, committed to, and where we go next in promoting climate change education, with a focus on greening schools.
In the previous webinars, we explored how schools can go "green" by incorporating Education for Sustainable Development into their teaching, facilities, governance, and community engagement. Building on the commitments made at COP28 by governments and others, the discussion will revolve around how to encourage cooperation across different sectors and among various stakeholders, bridging governments and society to support global efforts in making education and schools more environmentally conscious.
This session will tackle these questions: