Education Programme
Education is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone for achieving peace, poverty eradication, and sustainable development. UNESCO is the leading agency for driving the Global Education 2030 Agenda through Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
In Pakistan, UNESCO's education program focuses on three key priorities. Firstly, it aims to promote equitable and inclusive education by reducing disparities and addressing barriers to access, particularly for marginalized groups such as women, girls, persons with disabilities, children and persons living in remote and rural locations, persons with diverse gender identities and expressions, and refugees, migrants and IDPs. This focus area places a deliberate emphasis on addressing the high number of out-of-school children. Efforts under this priority involve capacity building, advocacy, policy advice, data and knowledge generation, and leveraging digital technologies to bridge inequalities across all levels and forms of education. Secondly, UNESCO emphasizes greening education, advocating for a comprehensive approach that transforms the entire education system to promote climate-resilient learning institutions, eco-friendly environments and empower learners to understand the impact of their actions on the planet. Key areas of intervention include the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Global Citizenship Education (GCED), and STEAM education to support sustainable economic development. Lastly, UNESCO prioritizes the empowerment and support of teachers, recognizing their crucial role in delivering quality education and promoting lifelong learning. Efforts include addressing teacher shortages, enhancing training and professional development, and promoting conducive teacher policies and frameworks.
To foster progress in these strategic areas, UNESCO emphasizes the critical importance of system strengthening as a cross-cutting focus. This involves conducting research to inform evidence-based policies and planning, enhancing the capacity of education officials, strengthening education sector coordination, supporting SDG4 data collection, analysis and reporting, and advocating for conducive education policies, plans, and strategies. Through these comprehensive interventions, UNESCO aims to make substantial contributions toward enhancing inclusive and equitable quality education in Pakistan.