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27 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n I am honored to join you at this Pre-Summit convened ahead of the \u2018Transforming Education Summit\u2019 in September.<\/p>\n Three years into the pandemic has taught us a great deal about our education system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It demonstrated the resilience of our teachers and students, and the flexibility and resourcefulness of our educational institutions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the same time, the pandemic also highlighted the challenges faced by an imperiled global education system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While online-learning has become an integral component of the right to education, great disparities exist in terms of access to digital tools and resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The pandemic has compounded conflicts, environmental challenges, and economic crises, all of which have repercussions on our education systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As we speak, more than 100 million additional children and young people have fallen below the minimum reading proficiency level.<\/p>\n And 23 countries \u2013 accounting for more than 400 million schoolchildren – are still affected by full or partial closure of schools.<\/p>\n An effective recovery from the pandemic requires investment in teachers, in digital learning, and in systems that are fit for the future. \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n We are in a state of global education emergency that demands robust and urgent action. Action that is inclusive and equitable for the world\u2019s children and youth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I welcome the objectives of this pre-Summit, which aims to drive country commitments as well as global movement for education.<\/p>\n This is especially important as we craft a post-Covid agenda.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is imperative that we do this with a forward-looking view, geared towards equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skillsets they will need to not only solve current challenges, but also those of the future. That will help them prepare for tomorrow\u2019s jobs and help them keep pace with a world that is ever-changing and defined by constant innovation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This will require upgraded curriculums, that reflect the importance of new digital trends to our economies and means of communication. And it will require investing in building up the capacity of our teachers, so that they are familiar with those trends, and can better impart that knowledge to students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, this requires a profound and transformative change in our approach to education. This will be no easy feat. However, it can be done, if we embrace a spirit of cooperation. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In a world that is increasingly interlinked, working together is the only smart solution. We must learn from each other, drawing inspiration from and building upon the success of our peers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today\u2019s network-wide coalition ushers in positive momentum.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Through this growing support, I am confident that the Transforming Education Summit will galvanize action towards SDG4, on providing our communities with quality education.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Going forward, we must generate synergies across our efforts on education, in a manner mutually benefitting students, teachers, parents, and all stakeholders. We must continue to keep in mind that education is an overlapping issue, that cuts across many of the Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n We must ensure the outcomes of the upcoming High-Level Political Forum in July, which will review SDG4, are fed and leveraged into the discussions of the Summit in September. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By achieving an inclusive, sustainable and resilient education system we can ensure our children and youth and specially girls get ahead of the learning curve and are given the best learning opportunities.<\/p>\n Together, we can create a new social contract for inclusive and resilient education\u00a0for all.<\/p>\n I wish you all fruitful discussions and look forward to the outcomes of this summit.<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Paris, France (Virtual)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-268475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n