UN Philippines chief bats for education transformation to reverse learning losses

MANILA, 5 August 2022--United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez addressed today the Stakeholders Convergence, which was organized by the Department of Education as part of a series of meetings being held in the lead-up to the United Nations Transforming Education Summit in New York in September 2022.

The Transforming Education Summit is a key initiative by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that brings together global, national and local education stakeholders and actors in inclusive, networked and effective global dialogue on the types of coordinated actions needed to reverse the slide on progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education. The Philippines is one of the Member States that will announce its national commitments to transform education.

Mr. Gonzalez's message (as prepared) follows:

First of all, I want to congratulate the Department of Education for organizing this consultation in preparation for the Transforming Education Summit.



We are proud, as United Nations, to be part of this process. I am also glad that our leading agencies UNICEF and UNESCO are hand-in-hand supporting the Government of the Philippines.



I know that the results of this consultation will be an important contribution to the position that the Philippines will set at the upcoming Summit in September, in New York.



But beyond the Summit, I hope that the results of this consultation with stakeholders, including children, the youth and their parents, will help put education at the center of the national development agenda.



Education is more than what we see in a classroom.



Education is a universe involving almost all sectors and partners in society.



It is thanks to the education systems that a society handles the present and prepares for the future.



And experience shows that countries that invest the most in education are the ones that best build their future. The future of any nation relies on the quality of its Education.



The  COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted education systems in many countries around the world.



The closure of schools has sent off alarms of a “global learning crisis”.



And the Philippines is not an exception to this. Many reports have provided evidence of the serious situation of education in the country



Many specialized organizations have also warned that unless action is taken, learning losses may continue to accumulate once children are back in school, endangering future learning.



The preparations for the upcoming Transforming Education Summit are a unique opportunity to share views, positions and ideas on how to rethink education in a changing world.



The Summit will provide a unique opportunity to reinvent education and to revitalize efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030.



Four principles guide the preparations for the Transforming Education Summit:



Number One, it should be country-led.



I am glad to note that national government has taken strong leadership in these consultations. The recent appointment of Vice President Sara Duterte, in her capacity as Secretary of Education, as the National Convenor for the TES reflects government’s commitments with this process.



Number Two, it should be inclusive.



We recognize that it is critical for the voices of the youth, parents, teachers, and all stakeholder groups be reflected in the process.

Number Three, it should be youth-inspired.



The UN Secretary General has made special emphasis of the importance of the role of the youth in shaping the Summit, and making sure the Summit itself is prepared with, and for, the youth.



And Number Four, it should build on existing efforts.



From the UN perspective, we are advocating for the following priority actions:

• Reopen all pre-schools, schools and learning centers as soon as possible with 5 days a week of in-person classes.
• Conduct rapid literacy and numeracy assessments nationwide and launch an emergency learning recovery plan targeting foundational and socioemotional skills.
• Elevate the value of the teaching profession with corresponding investments in increasing compensation, training, benefits, protection, career advancement, and reduction of non-teaching activities.
• Launch a digital learning national program to provide connectivity to all schools by 2030, devices with learning apps to all students in last-mile schools and rural areas, and digital teaching trainings.
• Increase budget allocation in the education system to implement the Basic Education Development Plan 2030 and commitments to the Transforming Education Summit, including reaching 6 percent of GDP by 2030 (with yearly increases of 0.5 percentage points); at least 20 percent of the national budget; and increase special education funds share to at least 2 percent for municipalities.

Your perspective of the future of education and the way education should be transformed is vital to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals on Education.



I wish you productive discussions ahead.