#Education4PeaceQ8 Changing Course, Transforming Education

Kuwait - 24 January 2022; “The time has come to reignite our collective commitment to education." As rightly said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. This year the UN marks the International Day of Education under the theme “Changing Course, Transforming Education”. As highlighted in the recently published UNESCO’s global Futures of Education report, transforming the future requires an urgent rebalancing of our relationships with each other, with the nature as well as with technology that permeates our lives, bearing breakthrough opportunities while raising serious concerns for equity, inclusion and democratic participation.

This year’s International Day of Education will be a platform to showcase the most important transformations that have to be nurtured to realize everyone’s fundamental right to education and build  more sustainable, inclusive and peaceful futures. It will generate debate around how to strengthen education as “a public endeavour and a common good”, how to steer the digital transformation, support teachers, safeguard the planet and unlock the potential in every person to contribute to collective well-being and our shared home.

Dr Tarek Elsheikh, Representative of UN Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator to the State of Kuwait said: “In Kuwait, is no different, the UN is collaborating with AbdulAziz Al-Babtain Foundation, through marking a series the UN international events, to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels locally and internationally”. Al-Babtain Foundation is a key partner who translates the true meaning of culture of peace through education. Prof. Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, an eminent Kuwaiti Poet and writer was awarded recently by UNESCO on Arabic Language Day in recognition of his well-known and pioneering achievements in communication between civilizations. It is a great opportunity for the UN in Kuwait to join forces to promote quality education for peace and development in achieving the global goals in Kuwait and beyond” Dr Elsheikh added.

Prof. Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain refer to his book “Contemplation for Peace, p32” where he says: “We must all understand that if we want to enshrine something and make it eternal as a value, a symbol, or a wisdom, then it must be taught to an entire generation, and this generation will carry its banner and advance it make it part of the culture. There is no doubt that education is a right to all human beings: it is the highest right, or in other words, the universal right of all human rights”.

Dr Anna Paolini, Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha and Representative to the countries of the Gulf and Yemen, emphasized: “This year we celebrate the International Day of Education in a moment when education systems are still recovering from the COVID19 pandemic and grappling with additional challenges given by the new waves of the virus spread. More than ever, we are reminded of the multiple dimensions of learning institutions as learning, well-being, social and protection sites for children and youth. UNESCO’s flagship report on the Futures of Education calls for a new social contract where all involved actors share a similar vision of the public purposes of education. Concerted and coordinated efforts, principles of participation, effective partnerships, including the private sectors, are key to deliver on the Sustainable Development Agenda. It is time now to reimagining learning institutions as sites of inclusion and equity, where the well-being of children and youth is promoted to build the societies and futures we strive for and lifelong learning opportunities are more widely made available”.

As we continue to work with the government of Kuwait and national partners on advancing this national priority, and promoting Human Capital & Knowledge Economy - Redirecting Education and Training in Kuwait ,where strategic investment in education is identified as one of the most critical development areas to accelerate the process of the knowledge economy in the country. The United Nations in Kuwait collaboration with Al-Babtain foundation will be announced today 24th January 2022, launching an initiative to mark the “International Day for Education”, targeting university students in Kuwait between the age of 18 to 25. Participating students should submit papers which generate innovative solutions for transformations - in view with the current situation - to build/accommodate more equitable and inclusive education systems that will accelerate progress towards SDG4 (Quality Education) and SDG16 (Peace, justice, and strong institutions).

Main objectives of the initiative is to:

1. Showcase best practices locally with a potential transfer of knowledge in the areas of advanced digital inclusion, climate action, promoting culture of peace, youth, and women empowerment.
2. Spotlight student voices on what changes and innovations they want to see to make their education more fit for purpose.
3. Showcase the positive impact of an inclusive society “a society of all” as one of the key goals of social development (inclusion, integration, cohesion, and participation).

Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.

For more info please visit @UNinKuwait #Education4PeaceQ8