22 March 2013
Consultation on Education Culminates in a High-level Meeting, Agrees Overarching Education Goal
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The Global Thematic Consultation on Education culminated in a High-level Meeting (HLM) in Dakar, Senegal from 18-19 March.

The HLM, which was organized by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with support from the Governments of Senegal, Canada and Germany and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, agreed on an overarching education goal of “equitable quality lifelong learning for all.”

21 March 2013: The Global Thematic Consultation on Education culminated in a High-level Meeting (HLM) in Dakar, Senegal, which was organized by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with support from the Governments of Senegal, Canada and Germany and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Participants agreed on an overarching education goal of “equitable quality lifelong learning for all.”

The meeting, which took place from 18-19 March 2013, was attended by over 100 participants. It sought to: review education progress since 2000; identify emerging priorities and cross-cutting issues; and outline options for addressing education in the post-2015 agenda. It included sessions on: Education For All (EFA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); reflections from Member States; emerging priorities from the High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Agenda (HLP) and implications for education; and principles and possible scenarios for the post-2015 education agenda.

Break out groups considered sectoral and thematic priorities. Groups highlighted that, although the EFA and MDG goals have yet to be achieved, they have ensured momentum for progress and increased attention on education. Groups called for: achieving universal access; defining and measuring quality; and improving understanding of basic education. Many suggested a universal goal to bridge the gap between MDG and EFA goals, which can be adapted to local and national contexts.

Working Groups discussed recommendations for education in the post-2015 agenda, with most again agreeing on an overarching goal calling for universal, equitable access to quality, basic education. Others urged: holding governments responsible for financing universal education from domestic resources; addressing marginalized groups, including victims of conflict and the disabled; and ensuring “employability.” Groups emphasized linkages between education and health, social development, peace and security and transparent resource use.

Participants urged easily communicable goals that will allow the education community to advocate for greater prominence in the post-2015 agenda. Participants also supported targets and goals on inter alia: lifelong learning; health; technology; child readiness; valuation of teachers; and implementation.

In the closing session, Yusuf Sayed, University of Sussex, noted unfinished work and summarized recommendations, including priorities on education access, equity and quality. Steven Obeegadoo, Pan-African Parliament Commission on Education, summarized the working group outcomes, noting references for ensuring safe learning environments and including mother tongues in early education.

The HLM followed a series of consultations that involved nearly 15,000 people globally, including: online consultations on the World We Want 2015 Platform; five regional consultations; and an Education NGOs meeting. The HLM produced an outcome document that Sayed said would be open for public comment and part of a process to produce a final report by the end of April 2013. [IISD RS Coverage of the HLM] [UNICEF Story] [UNESCO Story] [UNESCO Story 2] [Consultation on Education]


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