You are here

News

UNESCO launches consultation to measure progress in Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education
© UNESCO

46 years ago, UNESCO’s General Conference made a commitment to promote international education and world peace through the 1974 Recommendation concerning Education for International Understanding, Co-operation and Peace and Education relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

 

But the goals of the 1974 Recommendation are as vital in 2020 – a year that has seen the tragic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the world exits its hottest decade on record and sees a rise in nationalism and hate speech – as when it was first adopted.

 

They align closely to Target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goal on education, which covers Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED), essential to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 

Every four years, as part of its standard-setting and monitoring role, UNESCO invites Member States to report on progress made in implementing the 1974 Recommendation. To find out more about past consultations consult:  Progress on Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education (findings of the 6th Consultation) and Historical efforts to implement the UNESCO 1974 recommendation.

 

The Seventh Consultation will provide the data needed for global indicator 4.7.1 which monitors progress towards the achievement of SDG Target 4.7, the extent to which ESD and GCED are mainstreamed at all levels in national education policies, curricula, teacher education and student assessment. This will be the first time these data are collected.

 

The questionnaire is sent to the Government department responsible for the 1974 Recommendation and Target 4.7, typically the Ministry of Education.  However, to have a holistic understanding of the education sector in each country, collaboration with other education stakeholders is encouraged, including other Ministries, non-governmental organizations, human rights institutions.

 

The consultation will finish at the end of December 2020, and a report on the results of the consultation will be presented to the 211th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board and the 41st  Session of the UNESCO General Conference in 2021. The data will also be presented to the 2021 United Nations High Level Political Forum on the SDGs.

 

URL:

https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-launches-consultation-measure-progress-education-sustainable-development-and-global