UN welcomes designation of VP and Education Secretary Sara Duterte as national convenor of landmark UN education conference 

MANILA, 4 August 2022--The United Nations (UN) Philippines congratulates Vice-President and Secretary of Education Sara Duterte-Carpio for her designation as national convenor of the Transforming Education Summit (TES), which will be convened in New York, the United States, on 19 September 2022 during the 77th UN General Assembly.  

The TES is being convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to elevate education to the top of the global political agenda and to maximize public awareness and engagement. The Summit offers an opportunity for inclusive, networked and effective global dialogue on the types of coordinated actions needed to reverse the slide on progress towards SDG4 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Within this framework, the Government of the Philippines and the UN are actively engaged in the organization of country consultations, leading to the preparation of a solid country statement for the upcoming Summit. 

In preparation for the Summit, national consultations will be undertaken to develop a shared vision, commitment, and alignment of action across constituencies to transform education between now and 2030.  

As national convenor, Vice-President Duterte-Carpio will lead the national consultations and ensure that consultations are intersectoral and multisectoral, inclusive and results-oriented. 

In addition, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, the UN Country Team (UNCT) will be mobilized to support this process, with UNICEF and UNESCO playing a key role in in-country consultations.  

UN Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez said, “I am optimistic that with Vice-President Sara Duterte as national convenor, the Philippines will chart a strategy and roadmap to address the learning losses caused by the pandemic and bring us back on track to achieving the global goals on education.” [Ends]