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[Summary] Global Education Monitoring Report Summary 2024/5: Leadership in Education; Lead for Learning Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: Global Education Monitoring Report Team The 2024/5 Global Education Monitoring Report assesses progress towards the 2030 targets and shows that, while more children are in school and completing secondary education than ever before, there is stagnation in many areas. Leadership is central to addressing this. There are no schools that improve student outcomes without a good leader showing the way. Building on a review of legislation and policies on the selection, preparation and working conditions of school principals in 211 education systems, the report discusses policy levers to attract and retain talented leaders.Leadership’s potential is not limited to school leaders: it extends to individuals in positions elsewhere in the education system as well as outside of it, from assistant principals, teachers and students, when leadership is shared, to political leaders, civil society, international organizations, unions and the media, who help shape education goals.The report calls for efforts to develop leaders in four key leadership dimensions so that they can set expectations, focus on learning, foster collaboration and develop people. For these dimensions to be realized, people in leadership positions should be trusted and empowered; recruited through fair hiring practices; supported to grow; and encouraged to develop collaborative cultures. The report also calls for investment in education officials’ capacity to serve as system leaders, with a particular emphasis on instructional leadership and quality assurance. 
School Leadership Roles and Standards: Observations from the International Study of Teacher Leadership Year of publication: 2024 Author: Charles F. Webber | Dorothy Andrews | C.P. van der Vyver | Clelia Pineda-Báez | Janet M. Okoko | Edith J. Cisneros-Cohernour | José Gabriel Domínguez-Castillo | Mohammed Elmeski | Molly P. Fuller | Joan M. Conway | Cristina Moral-Santaella | Gloria Gratacós | Samira Idelcadi Corporate author: UNESCO | Global Education Monitoring Report Team This paper was commissioned by the Global Education Monitoring Report as background information to assist in drafting the 2024/5 GEM Report, Leadership in education. This report summarizes the findings of the International Study of Teacher Leadership(ISTL), conducted in 12 countries. The researchers share descriptions of the increasing interest in teacher leadershipas a factor in student learning and school improvement. ISTL researchers focus primarily on classroom-based teachers who—in collaboration with formal school leaders, parents, community members, and colleagues—impact school-wide decision making and pedagogical practices. The report offers insights related to teacher leader behaviours, the complexity of teacher leadership, how teacher leaders learn to lead, and the importance of contextual factors that support and impede teachers who provide informal leadership to schools and the communities they serve. The researchers compare cross-cultural requirements of good leadership and offer contextually situated analyses of leadership visions and goals, the impact of teacher leadership on educational outcomes, necessary preconditions for effective leadership, and policies that develop teacher leadership. The researchers also describe the readiness of school communities to embrace teacher leadership, described variously as parallel leadership, shared leadership, and distributed leadership. The report argues for a shift from considering standards for teacher leadership—too often based on the assumption that leadership is consistent across cultural and organizational settings—to the more flexible and contextualized conceptualization of leadership dimensions such as purpose, self-awareness, intentionality, and culture building. The ISTL researchers also argue that teacher leadership is but one component of an integrated approach to educational governance that addresses the complexities of teaching and learning in relation to rapid socioeconomic change, global migration, political tensions, and the emergence of new technologies. The ISTL also reinforces the ongoing importance of classroom teachers in the achievement of educational objectives. The ISTL team concludes this report with a set of research recommendations. 
Monitoring Progress towards SDG Target 4.7 on Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO | Global Education Monitoring Report Team This document introduces key messages from the GEM Reports and other related publications and online resources regarding the progress towards SDG Target 4.7. 
Global Education Monitoring Report 2024, Pacific: Technology in Education; A Tool on Whose Terms? Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO | Global Education Monitoring Report Team | Commonwealth of Learning Information transmission and connectivity is crucial in the Pacific, a region characterized by high geographic dispersion. While the application of ICT in education has significant potentials, it is hindered by the region's limited and costly infrastructure. This edition accompanies the 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report, which acknowledges technology as a useful tool but invites the education community to question on whose terms it is deployed. The report considered four key policy areas of the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) (2018–2030): In terms of quality and relevance, mobile technology has offered an affordable and flexible approach to learning, and social media have improved communication between institutions, parents and learners. Moodle is the most widely used digital platform in the region. Textbooks are being digitalised and digital resources made available. Yet content is not always developed or adapted to local languages and cultural contexts. Open and distance learning has historically expanded learning pathways in the Pacific, specially in higher education and as a response to natural hazards. The University of South Pacific is a leading example of open and distance learning connecting campus across 12 countries. With the aim to enhance student outcomes and well-being, efforts have been made to incorporate digital skills into curricula and initiatives have increased outside formal education. Yet regulations do not adequately address threats from the use of technology to privacy, safety and well-being. With a focus on the teaching profession, countries leverage technology to provide training opportunities and transform the teaching profession. However, ICT training varies greatly across the region and limited digital infrastructure hinders technology integration into classrooms and teacher training. Three conditions need to be met for technology's potential to be fulfilled: equitable access to technology, appropriate governance and regulation, and sufficient teacher capacity. Supporting this publication is seven background thematic studies that provide a comprehensive overview of education technology issues; Commonwealth of Learning’s short case studies on some of its projects; a survey administered to key informed respondents from the region; and a series of country profiles on PEER, a policy dialogue resource describing policies and regulations related to technology in the region’s education systems. 
Global Priority Africa Flagships 2023: An Update from UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO Harare Two years into the implementation of the Operational Strategy for Priority Africa 2022-2029 (OSPA), a new biennium has commenced through the Programme and Budget for 2024-2025. With a goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want”, the OSPA remains pivotal in accelerating the achievement of SDGs amidst a growing threat of regression and stagnation on some of the SDG targets. The relentless climatic changes have resulted in droughts and cyclones whose incessant rains have caused food insecurity, waterborne diseases and loss of biodiversity. Geopolitical crisis and the remnants of the impacts of COVID-19 continue to waylay the aspirations of the continent. Gender inequality, youth unemployment, education and HIV and AIDS continue to be areas for concern. Despite this plethora of challenges, Member States remain committed to Agenda 2030 and 2063 and the strong partnership existing with UNESCO and the rest of the UN system. While the OSPA is driven to address challenges in the areas of demography and sustainable development, education and knowledge, climate change, cultural renaissance, and peace and democracy these all have far-reaching consequences beyond their focus hence addressing these contributes widely to other thematic areas. Priority Africa reinforces UNESCO’s partnerships with African governing bodies such as the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Member States as well as other UN agencies. Being also aligned with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and UNESCO’s Joint Programme of Action (JPA) 2022-2025, the OSPA continues to demonstrate its relevance to the region. 
Pathways for Peace with Nature: Achieving Global Biodiversity Goals in UNESCO Designated Sites; Latin America and the Caribbean Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO UNESCO designated sites in Latin America and the Caribbean harbour over 60% of the region’s mapped species richness, i.e. over 14,000 species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fishes. They are also important for strengthening culture and nature linkages. However, biodiversity in these sites is threatened by human pressures and climate change and countries should take urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.This publication provides a regional overview of the status and trends of species in UNESCO designated sites, as well as key information to facilitate dialogue among all stakeholders. Additionally, it promotes the development of effective actions aimed at achieving global biodiversity goals. 
Assessment for Advocacy to Transform Communities, Programmes and Policies in the Global South Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO | Global Education Monitoring Report Team | PAL Network This paper was commissioned by the Global Education Monitoring Report as background information to assist in drafting the 2024 Spotlight Report on basic education completion and foundational learning in Africa. It has not been edited by the team. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author(s) and should not be attributed to the Global Education Monitoring Report or to UNESCO. The papers can be cited with the following reference: “Paper commissioned for the 2024 Spotlight Report on basic education completion and foundational learning in Africa”. 
Hydro Resilience: Citizen and Open Science for Climate Adaptation Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO Human-induced climate change is affecting weather and climate extremes worldwide and causing changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere leading to widespread adverse impacts on people and nature. These conditions have exposed people to reduced water security and negatively affected food security and ecosystem services. Despite advances in climate and water sciences, there is still a significant gap between information availability and its uptake by stakeholders. Although there is abundant data and information available on the potential impacts of climate change, there is a lack of expert knowledge on the user side, which limits the development and implementation of effective adaptation strategies at the local level. There is also an opportunity to bring communities more on board to manage their climate risk through citizen engagement and to ensure that vulnerable communities can benefit from climate science foresight. To address these challenges, a new project was developed called ‘Hydro Resilience: Citizen and Open Science for Climate Adaptation’ to pilot citizen and open science applications for climate risk management and to support water management under climate change uncertainty. 
3rd Global Forum Against Racism and Discrimination: Final Document Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: UNESCO The third edition of the Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination with the theme “Race to the top: putting racial equity and justice at the forefront of development agendas” was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on 29 November 2023 and 1 December 2023. At the invitation of Brazil, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, the Mover Foundation, Instituto Ibirapitanga, the Global Forum highlighted the importance of placing racial issues at the core of development and implementation strategies, with a view to socioeconomic development. The Global Forum welcomed Ministers, high-ranking officials of national bodies responsible for combating discrimination and promoting equality, mayors of the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities - ICCAR, academics, scientists, civil society actors, NGOs, artists and digital influencers to share good practices, strengthen commitments and discuss effective strategies to combat racism and various forms of discriminations, including recommendations on how to proceed. The Global Forum’s agenda covered several topics, such as co-creating inclusive policies with impacted communities’ inputs; increasing awareness-raising on historical systems such as transatlantic enslavement to better comprehend and dismantle their contemporary legacies such as racism; progress towards gender equality; enhancing the capacities of civil society to be an agent of change; addressing artificial intelligence and its role in perpetuating racism; protecting the rights of indigenous peoples; establishing legal and policy frameworks prioritizing anti-racism and anti-discrimination on a local and global scale; strengthening the roles of cities, civic spaces, artistic and academic communities; enhancing the importance of informed data baseline on equality for governments; and promoting social philanthropy to address racial inequality. The 2023 edition was also marked by the launch of new initiatives. One of the main outcomes of the Global Forum is the establishment of the UNESCO Network of Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Officials aiming to strengthen the development of innovative and inclusive policy solutions for peace, equity and non-discrimination. UNESCO has launched the new UNESCO Anti-Racism Toolkit, the Gender-Based Resilience Framework, the ‘Let’s Talk‘ project with Harvard University to combat prejudice against migrants, and the development of a new joint OECD-UNESCO briefing on combating discrimination against migrants. Volume X of the UNESCO General History of Africa, entitled Africa and its Diasporas, was also launched during the Global Forum. The publication offers a mapping of African diasporas throughout the world, valorizing their contributions to modern societies. 
Global Education Monitoring Report 2024/5: Leadership in Education; Lead for Learning Year of publication: 2024 Corporate author: Global Education Monitoring Report Team Leadership matters in education. Strong leaders are needed to help institutions, systems and societies change for the better. Strong leaders work in collaboration with other actors towards the same goals. At the school level, they are the principals but also those who surround them, in the school and in the community, in positions of responsibility. At the system level, they are civil servants working as district officers, supervisors or planners. At the societal level, they are political leaders, as well as a very broad range of actors who help shape education goals, from unions and researchers to civil society and the media.Entitled Lead for learning, this report argues that, in pursuing specific goals, education leaders are more than just managers. They are change agents, who need the time, trust and support to focus on setting a vision and developing the people they serve and work with. The report calls for investment in and empowerment of school and system leaders. There should be fair hiring processes and growth opportunities that recognize the full scope of leaders’ roles. Moreover, leadership works best when it is shared, empowering others to lead as they can within their roles.There is no one leadership style that works. Different contexts, capacities and personalities mean that styles vary, and rightfully so. This, combined with the different goals that each leader is trying to achieve, means that their impact is hard to fully assess. Yet, all research points towards the critical need for strong leaders to continuously improve education quality. School leaders are second only to teachers for transforming student outcomes. Meanwhile, politicians wield huge influence in making equitable and inclusive education a national priority.Supporting this seventh Global Education Monitoring Report is a new series of country profiles on PEER, an online resource supporting policy dialogue and describing policies and regulations on school principal selection, preparation and development in the world’s education systems.