Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
In a recent session, education leaders reaffirmed education as a public good and highlighted the Gateways to Public Digital Learning Initiative’s efforts to ensure digital and AI technologies promote equity, inclusion, and human agency. Egypt shared its development of public digital platforms, the Philippines announced its participation, Finland emphasized co-creating digital solutions with stakeholders, and the United Arab Emirates presented the AI-powered NOVA project as an example of responsible AI governance in education. Priorities identified included supporting countries to improve public digital learning commons and reinforcing critical thinking in a digital era.
The session on environmental and climate change education focused on advancing climate-ready education systems through the Greening Education Partnership. Leaders from Saint Kitts and Nevis, Tonga, and the Seychelles stressed the urgency of climate and ocean literacy for Small Island Developing States and advocated for whole-institution approaches. Uzbekistan discussed greening schools and curricula, emphasizing education’s role in sustainability. Participants agreed on accelerating tailored technical support, mobilizing financing, and tracking progress globally and nationally.
Another discussion on skills, employability, and lifelong learning explored how TVET and higher education can adapt to rapidly changing labor market demands. Commitments included strengthening education-industry linkages, embedding digital and AI competencies, and expanding lifelong learning. Examples ranged from South Africa’s integration of education and labor market policies to Armenia’s partnerships with industry.
These collaborative efforts, involving UNESCO, UNICEF, ITU, and multiple countries, aim to shape the future education agenda beyond Sustainable Development Goal 4.