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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.

The Teacher Task Force network, represented by the Secretariat, Germany, Indonesia, India, Republic of South Africa and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is present at the 2024 G20 Education Working Group Sherpa meeting, hosted by Brazil.

The focus of the intervention will be on the critical findings from our latest Global Report on Teachers, which highlights the urgent need to address teacher shortages worldwide, with 44 million primary and secondary teachers needed by 2030 to address primary and secondary universal education.

The focus will be on the G20 country examples with good practices that contributed to addressing teacher shortages, including:

• More competitive teacher salaries
• In-service training
• Induction programs
• Communities of Practice (CoPs)
• Support for rural teachers
• Improved working conditions
• Promoting gender equity

UNESCO is taking part in various G20 moments - Sherpas meet to discuss the progress of the various G20 processes, such as the working groups and Engagement groups. They also oversee the negotiations and provide strategic advice on preparations for the Leaders Summit. Read more about UNESCO engagement in the G20 here.

The Teacher Task Force network, represented by the Secretariat, Germany, Indonesia, India, Republic of South Africa and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is present at the 2024 G20 Education Working Group Sherpa meeting, hosted by Brazil.

The focus of the intervention will be on the critical findings from our latest Global Report on Teachers, which highlights the urgent need to address teacher shortages worldwide, with 44 million primary and secondary teachers needed by 2030 to address primary and secondary universal education.

The focus will be on the G20 country examples with good practices that contributed to addressing teacher shortages, including:

• More competitive teacher salaries
• In-service training
• Induction programs
• Communities of Practice (CoPs)
• Support for rural teachers
• Improved working conditions
• Promoting gender equity

UNESCO is taking part in various G20 moments - Sherpas meet to discuss the progress of the various G20 processes, such as the working groups and Engagement groups. They also oversee the negotiations and provide strategic advice on preparations for the Leaders Summit. Read more about UNESCO engagement in the G20 here.

The UNESCO and Teacher Task Force Global Report on Teachers will be presented on Thursday 9 May at the 11th Conference and 13th Roundtable of the African Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA) in Lusaka, Zambia.

Jointly hosted by the Ministry of Education of Zambia and the Teaching Council of Zambia, the conference is scheduled to run from 6 to 11 May, uniting key stakeholders, policymakers, and educators for crucial discussions on  Africa's educational future.

Carlos Vargas, Head of the TTF Secretariat and Chief of UNESCO's Section for Teacher Development, will present the Global Report on Teachers during a dedicated session on the conference's third day. This will be followed by a presentation of the Recommendations of the United Nations Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, and a moderated panel discussion, where participants will explore the implications of these policy tools within the context of the African Union's Year of Education and the forthcoming Continental Education Strategy for Africa.

• Click here to download the full conference announcement from the AFTRA website
• Click here to register for the conference (advance registration is required)

His Excellency, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, will be present as the Special Guest of Honour during the conference. Joining him will be Hon. Douglas Siakalima, MP, Minister of Education, Zambia, serving as the Chief Host, and Dr. Ebby Mubanga, Registrar of the Teaching Council of Zambia, as host.

About AFTRA

AFTRA, the African Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities, comprises Ministries of Education, National Teaching Councils, Teacher Unions, Teacher Education Institutions, and international organisations associated with the regulation of teaching. AFTRA is also the Africa Regional Branch of the world body, International Forum of Teacher Regulatory Authorities, IFTRA (www.iftra.org). It is further the Co-Chair of the African Union Teacher Development Cluster, Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2016-2025), and member of the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030. It has a special working relationship with African Union Commission, UNESCO-IICBA, UNESCO Regional offices in Africa, Education International Africa Region, and many others.


Photo: The Minister of Education, Zambia chairing the Planning Committee which included members of the AFTRA Executive Board.