Getting to Know Your International Contacts--Part 3

I reviewed the global organization UNESCO.  Although I had heard of the organization, I had no idea how entrenched they were in education.  Since the creation of the organization in 1945, UNESCO has worked to improve education worldwide.

 

            UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.  Two global priorities are:  Africa and Gender equality.  Both priorities are of great interest to me.  While living in Africa, I have seen the effects of gender inequality.  It is reassuring to know UNESCO is working to bring attention to these topics.

 

 

Teacher Training Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa

 

 Sub-Saharan Africa faces some of the same challenges as the United States as it relates to quality of teachers. Achieving quality education for all, in line with Goal 6 of the Dakar Framework for Action, calls for more and better trained teachers.  Likewise, schools must be supported in attracting qualified teachers. 

 

Gender Equality

UNESCO works to promote equal opportunities to quality learning, free from gender-based or other forms of discrimination.  In particular, UNESCO:

§  promotes gender equality in national education laws, policies and plans

§  seeks to expand access to learning opportunities, in particular for girls and women, in both formal and non-formal education

§  develops the capacity of education policy-makers, planners, teachers and other education personnel regarding gender-sensitive approaches

§  supports countries to make education content gender-sensitive and free from discrimination

§  seeks to address obstacles to learning such as gender-based violence and HIV-AIDS

 

UNESCO is a global organization working towards solving global issues. I will add UNESCO to my bank of resources.

 

References

UNESCO

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/