Pedro Sánchez pinpoints education as key to a better future and advocates its modernisation as a priority

2020.10.22

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In his video-message at this high-level event of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Pedro Sánchez argued that education affects each and every one of the "urgent" transformations that Spain faces and that must be based on social justice, territorial cohesion, the ecological transition, digitalisation and gender equality.

To achieve that, he continued, the modernisation of education systems, vocational training and universities is a priority for the Government of Spain and the goal of a cross-cutting policy that involves each and every ministerial department. "This transformation of education must allow us to build a society with a better, more competitive, stable and safe future".

The President of the Government advocated the need for a technological and training modernisation process so that centres and teachers have the necessary tools to foster "dynamic, attractive and exciting" learning. As regards vocational training, he stressed its importance as "training integrated within the productive fabric" and highlighted the boost it is receiving from such digital qualifications as cybersecurity, 5G infrastructures, artificial intelligence and big data.

Measures to recover and strengthen education systems after COVID-19

Pedro Sánchez declared his commitment to education without gender, age or territorial gaps, and praised the opportunity of the UNESCO Global Education Meeting because it allows "reflections to be made that seek solutions to common challenges" like the transformation of education and its adaptation to the 21st Century, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to UNESCO, the health emergency has led to the worst interruption in the history of global education systems - more than 1.6 billion students had to abandon school at the worst point of the crisis - has increased inequalities and particularly affected the most vulnerable students, threatening to reverse decades of progress in education.

The main global measures to recover and strengthen education systems addressed at the event were the protection of national and international funding for education, reopening safe schools, focusing on inclusion, equity and gender equality, redesigning teaching focuses and the results of learning and harnessing connectivity and fair technologies for learning.

The event was held virtually on 20 and 22 October and involved the participation of Heads of State and Government, ministers, heads of policy design, multilateral organisations, development associates and global education agents.

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