The United Nations Secretary-General is convening the Transforming Education Summit during the 77th UN General Assembly. The summit will be held on 16 – 19 September 2022 in New York. The Summit seeks to mobilize political ambition, action, solutions and solidarity to transform education: to take stock of efforts to recover pandemic-related learning losses; to reimagine education systems for the world of today and tomorrow; and to revitalize national and global efforts to achieve SDG-4.
- On 16 September: The Mobilisation Day will be organised and led by youth with the full involvement of a broad variety of stakeholders. Informed by the Summit Youth Declaration, it will serve to convey the collective recommendations of youth on transforming education to decision-makers and policymakers. Additionally, it will emphasise getting the support of the public, youth, educators, civil society, and other stakeholders to support the transformation of education across the world.
- On 17 September: The Solutions Day will give partners a platform to rally support for the beginning or expansion of activities linked to the Summit’s Thematic Action Tracks. There will be presentations of coalitions for action and other multi-stakeholder initiatives that will help transform education.
- On 19 September: The Leaders Day will be dedicated to the presentation of National Statements of Commitment by Heads of State and Government in the form of Leaders Roundtables. A limited number of thematic sessions will also be held to place a focus on cross-cutting priorities for transforming education. Leaders Day will also feature the presentation of the Summit Youth Declaration and the Secretary-General’s Vision Statement for Transforming Education.
A Pre-Summit was held in Paris from 28-30 June, including a Day of Engagement, Side Events and a Youth Summit. The overall objective of the Pre-Summit was to harness the evolving discussions on transforming education, elaborate initial content for the Summit, and generate greater momentum in the lead up to September. See the outcomes here.
National and international commitments to transform education; greater public engagement around and support for transforming education; and a Vision Statement on Transforming Education from the Secretary-General are the Summit’s primary outcomes. The Vision Statement will be formally presented as an input to intergovernmental negotiations on the future of education as part of the preparations for the proposed UN Summit of the Future. To ensure efficient follow-up at all levels, it will also be used as input for the SDG4-Education 2030 High-Level Steering Committee’s work.
For more information, including on the TES-related national consultations, visit the Transforming Education Knowledge Hub. You may also view the TES Information Note and the TES Concept Note and Programme.
Work Streams and Action Tracks
The Transforming Education Summit preparatory process will be advanced across three intersecting and reinforcing workstreams: National Consultations ,Thematic Action Tracks and Public engagement and mobilization. The objective of the Thematic Action Tracks work stream is to place a spotlight on a small number of areas that require greater attention and action and that can accelerate progress on education and the 2030 Agenda and transform education. Action tracks will identify evidence-based examples of successful policy interventions and mobilize new commitments to action, building on and strengthening existing initiatives, partnerships and coalitions, including those that emerged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The action tracks are:
- Inclusive, equitable, safe and healthy schools
- Learning and skills for life, work and sustainable development
- Teachers, teaching and the teaching profession
- Digital learning and transformation
- Financing of education
A global consultation on each Action Track took place in May. All Action Tracks Discussion Papers have been finalised and they are available for you here.
A Transforming Education Summit Mobilization Hub has been set by the Summit Secretariat. It is integrated by an initial core group of 15 members coordinated and convened by the UN Foundation. The Hub is aimed at:
- Create an advocacy and campaigning space for partners
- Discuss what is ongoing and what is planned
- Align efforts for the Education movement
- Core cell of partners to help build a global movement
FAQ: Find them HERE
