UNESCO’s action in education

Worldwide around 258 million children and youth are deprived of education because of social, economic and cultural factors. And an estimated 617 million children and adolescents cannot read a simple sentence or undertake a straightforward maths calculation. Three-quarters of children of primary school age who will never set foot in school are girls. Boys are more frequently disengaging from education and are at greater risk of falling behind in school. Women still account for almost two-thirds of all adults unable to read – 515 million of them lack basic reading skills. Only 2% of the poorest rural females in low-income countries complete upper secondary school. The COVID-19 pandemic that led to near universal school closures and reliance on distance learning solutions, has exacerbated educational inequalities and threatens progress across the development agenda.  

UNESCO's task is to rethink and reimagine education for a sustainable future while providing concrete guidance on how to strengthen and improve education systems worldwide by: 

• Laboratory of ideas: We anticipate and respond to emerging trends and needs in education, generating tailormade ideas and policy based on research  
• Clearinghouse: We develop and strengthen education systems by creating, implementing and sharing successful policies and practices. 
• Standard-setter: We set and develop standards, norms and guidelines in key education areas and monitor how they are implemented 
• Catalyst and motor for international cooperation: We start and promote dialogue, exchange and partnership among education leaders and stakeholders. 
• Capacity-builder: We provide technical advice and support to develop the institutional and human capacity of countries to achieve their education goals.