Latest news with #SustainableDevelopmentGoal4
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Few women leaders in education a serious concern, says global report
Representative AI image New Delhi: 'Most teachers are women, but few lead' is the central message of the 'Leadership in Education: Lead For Learning' section of the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024-25, released on Wednesday night by UNESCO . The report highlights what is a problem across countries: the under-representation of women in leadership positions at all levels of the education system — from schools to education ministries. Globally, women make up 57% of secondary school teachers, but in most countries, the proportion of female principals lags the share of female teachers by at least 20 percentage points. This disparity exists despite growing evidence that gender-diverse leadership correlates with better learning outcomes and more enabling school environment. Similar is the story at the higher education level. While women comprise 45% of higher education faculty, they account for only 30% of leadership roles in universities and colleges. India is no exception to this phenomenon. While women dominate the teaching workforce in primary schools, accounting for over 60% of elementary teachers, their number declines sharply in leadership positions, particularly at the secondary and tertiary levels. Factors such as limited access to mentorship, lack of institutional support, safety concerns, and deep-rooted gender norms continue to restrict women's elevation to decision-making roles. The report also examines political leadership in the education sector. Between 2010 and 2023, only 27% of education ministers worldwide were women. This imbalance matters not only for representation purposes but also for policy priorities. Studies cited in the GEM report suggest that female political leaders are more likely to bat for equitable education funding, inclusive curricula, and community engagement. Countries with specific policies to promote gender equity in school leadership are clearly in the minority. Only 11% of countries globally have taken concrete steps to address the gender gap in principal recruitment. Some regions are taking proactive measures — for instance, several francophone African countries are piloting support programmes for female school leaders. The report says that students in such settings, with more schools led by women, were ahead in progress in mathematics and reading by at least six months compared to their peers in male-led schools. It calls for systemic reforms that move beyond token representation. Among the report's recommendations are transparent and gender-sensitive recruitment for leadership roles, targeted training and mentoring programmes for aspiring women leaders, and policies that enable flexible work arrangements and childcare support. As countries work towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) of inclusive and equitable quality education, educational leadership must reflect the diversity of those it serves. Unless gender barriers in leadership are removed, progress in other aspects of educational equity may remain incomplete, the report has stressed.
See - Sada Elbalad
22-05-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
ICESCO Expert Faizah Alaoui Nominated to UNESCO's Advisory Board
Mohamed Mandour The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is proud to announce that Faizah Alaoui, Expert at the Organization's Education Sector, has been appointed as a member of the Advisory Board for the Global Education Monitoring Report (GEMR). This flagship initiative by UNESCO monitors progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on quality education. Alaoui will represent ICESCO at the 10th Annual Meeting of the GEMR Advisory Board, to be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 10–11 June 2025. This appointment reflects ICESCO's growing influence in shaping global education policy and its commitment to ensuring that the voice and priorities of the Islamic world are effectively represented in the international arena. It also reaffirms the Organization's active engagement in the global dialogue on education. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
Barnama
20-05-2025
- General
- Barnama
Lahore Grammar School Wins National Title In British Council's 10th 'Your World' Competition
KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- The British Council is celebrating the 10th edition of its global video-making competition, 'Your World', an initiative aimed at equipping young people with the skills needed to address the world's pressing challenges. Designed to foster critical thinking, creativity and cross-curricular application, the competition encourages students to translate their learning into impactful action within their communities, according to a statement. From Pakistan, the national winners were students from Lahore Grammar School Johar Town International, whose video emphasised the importance of integrating performing arts into education. The project showcased how schools can nurture diverse student aspirations despite socio-economic barriers. British Council Country Director in Pakistan, James Hampson praised the initiative and the students' achievement, stating that participation in such global platforms is a key benefit of being a British Council Partner School. The winning team expressed gratitude for the recognition, noting that the competition offered a meaningful platform to raise awareness on educational and social topics. They also acknowledged the British Council's continued support throughout their journey. This year's edition saw 642 video projects submitted by 3,210 students from 34 countries, reflecting the growing influence of the initiative in preparing youth for leadership roles on the global stage. Themed "Skills for Sustainability – Equipping All Youth for the Future", the competition aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education, focusing on the importance of building capacity among young people to address sustainability issues. The competition helps students develop vital academic and life skills, including collaboration, digital literacy, communication, and problem-solving, and also encourages confidence in addressing real-world challenges with innovative solutions. Since its inception, Your World has involved over 30,000 students worldwide, encouraging youth-led social impact projects and inspiring the next generation of global leaders. The 11th edition is scheduled to open in September.
Bahrain News Gazette
07-05-2025
- General
- Bahrain News Gazette
Your World Empowers Young People to Become Leaders and Agents of Change
The winner of the 2025 'Your World' competition by British Council Partner Schools is Scoris International School from Uganda. Their project addressing unemployment among women in their country was selected from 642 entries submitted by 3,210 students across 34 countries. Participants gain crucial skills in problem-solving, communication, and creativity, preparing them to tackle some of the world's challenges. Many past projects have led to sustainable initiatives that continue to make an impact on local communities, highlighting the programme's growing influence. LAGOS, Nigeria, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The British Council celebrated the 10 th edition of Your World , a global video-making competition designed to equip young people with the skills to address the world's most pressing challenges. This initiative empowers students to develop critical thinking and creativity, applying cross-curricular knowledge to bring their learning to life and drive change in their communities. Your World continues to raise the bar, demonstrating the power of education in preparing young people to become global leaders. The theme of this edition, 'Skills for Sustainability – Equipping All Youth for the Future,' aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education and underscores the importance of equipping students with the tools to address global sustainability challenges. The competition has engaged over 30,000 students over the years, driving impactful social action projects that have reached millions across local communities. The British Council's Your World competition helps students develop essential academic, creative and life skills, while also giving students the confidence to propose solutions to real-world sustainability challenges. By empowering this new generation, the British Council supports the growth of confident, creative and collaborative future leaders. Empowered to lead This year's global winners from Scoris International School in Uganda addressed women's unemployment , showcasing how Your World empowers students to apply cross-curricular knowledge and turn ideas into action. Beyond the competition, many projects have sparked sustainability efforts and community-driven initiatives , demonstrating how young people are driving change. The winning team this year helped to train tens of young adults and single mothers to run their own soap making and baking businesses. This year's national winners from Redeemers International School in Nigeria introduced skills for sustainability: equipping all youths for the future. 'We found the theme for this year exciting because our vision for the school is aimed at equipping youths for the future. We are excited to be 2 nd time winners; first time being 2023. We appreciate the British Council for the opportunity to challenge ourselves as a school and think creatively,' said Feyisara Osinupebi Principal , Redeemer International Secondary School , Maryland . The 11 th edition of the Your World competition will open in September 2025. Visit our website for more information. About British Council Partner Schools British Council Partner Schools is a global community of over 2,300 schools, supported by the British Council, delivering UK qualifications such as International GCSEs, O Levels, and A Levels. A trusted partner, we help improve education quality, supporting learners worldwide to achieve their potential through UK education and qualifications. We support Partner Schools in over 40 countries, transforming the lives of over 250,000 students each year. About the British Council The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2023-24 we reached 600 million people. Contact: [email protected] GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001095090
Arab News
14-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Uzbekistan's $220m education project signals shift toward skills-driven systems: GPE CEO
RIYADH: Uzbekistan's $220 million education reform deal reflects a growing global shift to align schooling systems with economic transformation, according to Global Partnership for Education CEO Laura Frigenti. Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the Human Capability Initiative 2025 in Riyadh, Frigenti said the agreement, signed with the Islamic Development Bank and the Uzbek government, aims to help the country 'accelerate that process of transformation.' Fully aligned with Uzbekistan's national education strategies, this project aims to enhance the quality and efficiency of the education system while supporting the achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 4. 'Uzbekistan is a country that has a very well-functioning, in a way, education system because under the Soviet Union, education was a big priority,' she said. 'At the same time, [it] was a system that was designed thinking about a world that doesn't exist anymore. And so, because they are moving very quickly at transforming their own education, they do want to have resources to accelerate that process of transformation and that is the sense of, you know, of the project that we signed today,' Frigenti told Arab News. The $220.25 million 'Smart Education' program includes $160.25 million from IsDB, a $40 million grant from GPE, and a $20 million contribution from the Government of Uzbekistan. The project is already under implementation, with early work focused on school construction and partnerships with UNICEF and UNESCO. 'It's also a project that is part of the process of finding innovative instruments to finance education,' Frigenti said. 'Education, as I'm sure you know, is a very expensive type of sector that, until now has been basically mainly funded either through domestic financing or with the development assistance resources.' Education for growth Frigenti emphasized that education systems must shift to meet the needs of evolving economies, and focus on producing skills that are needed to make society progress and facilitate process of growth and so on. Saudi Arabia, she noted, has made significant headway in this area. 'Saudi Arabia has been understanding this connection between skills and economic growth very well and they have invested in this over the past couple of decades significantly,' Frigenti said. 'Other countries need to get to that and so the kind of things that we are trying to do is to see how can this re-alignment of education with the needs of the economy be translated for countries that do not have the same resource base of Saudi Arabia.' She added: 'And this is where we are working on issues related to financing of the sector, efficiency in the administration of the resources, etcetera.' Women's workforce gains Frigenti also highlighted Saudi Arabia's progress in gender inclusion. 'I think having a very clear political vision that sets a specific target, like 50 percent of the labor force needs to be female, as in the Vision 2030, and then having the ability of designing a set of policies and programs that leads to that results in record time — that is quite an extraordinary result,' she said. Zooming out, she described the Kingdom's broader economic transition as strategic and well-resourced. 'Saudi Arabia is a country that has several strong things going for it. First one, there is a clear vision of where the country, you know, needs to go — and the country needs to go toward an economy that is more diversified, that is not depending on fossil fuels and where you know that there is a whole range of new activities that needs to be started and stimulated.' She added: 'The second part is that to be able to get to that different type of economy, you need a different type of skills. You need people that can do different things, people that can work in services, for example, people that can work in manufacturing and so on and so forth.' The CEO went on to say: 'And then you need to have the resources that on one hand create this skill mix and on the other hand, put in place the infrastructures that allow this to happen. That is rather unique.' Young population Frigenti sees Saudi Arabia's youth bulge as a pivotal advantage. 'The very young workforce is accessing the labor market and is going through the education system at this time. So all this has been an exceptionally fertile ground for transforming the education system on one side, but the economy on the other in a very quick time.' She said they had created 'a working group, a forum' that brings together ministers of education, heads of major technology companies, and key government players — with Saudi Arabia playing a particularly strong role. According to her, the Kingdom wanted not only to contribute its experiences but also to learn from others. 'Attention to technology and the role it can play in education is something that I feel is going to be very much at the center of the education portion of the Vision 2050,' she said, adding that this would be highly relevant going forward. She concluded by saying that Saudi Arabia is actively looking to share and absorb best practices globally. Frigenti also emphasized that Saudi Arabia is eager to engage in a global exchange of best practices — sharing what has worked for them while also learning from successful experiences elsewhere. 'They are very keen on having a kind of exchange with the rest of the world around good practice, what works and what doesn't work,' she said. 'Events like HCI 2025 are just an example,' the CEO concluded.
