By Justina Auta
Abuja, – UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Wednesday
pledged to lead global efforts toward the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG 4) to boost education.
The SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The UNESCO National Programme Officer on Education, Ms Ngozi Amanze, made the pledge in an interview with News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, against the backdrop of the Nov. 28 launch of the 2019 Global Education Monitoring Report.
The report focuses on “Migration, Displacement and Education – Building Bridges, Not Walls.’’
Amanze said “UNESCO will continue to lead and coordinate global efforts for the achievement and monitoring of SDG 4.”
According to her, the report analysed relationship between migration, displacement and its effects on education, particularly on
how curricula, textbooks and teacher education can be used to address diversity, achieve inclusion and strengthen social cohesion.
She added that “the new Global Education Monitoring Report analysed the impact of the movement of people on education systems around the world.
“It showed that there would be 80 million more children living in slums by 2030, and about 50 million in sub Saharan Africa.
“Many of those settling in slums are not just internal migrants but also refugees from other countries. And yet, the provision of
education in slums is poor.”
The programme officer noted that stakeholders at the launch of the report identified political, social, economic and environmental reasons
as some of the factors that could lead to migration and displacement of people.
She explained that “education systems need to adjust to the needs of populations moving in seasonal or circular patterns.
“ Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) need to be included in national education systems and their right to education ensured.
“Diversity in classroom requires better prepared teachers, targeted programmes to support new arrivals and prevent segregation and disaggregated data.”
Amanze, therefore, said that participants at the launch of the Global Education Monitoring Report recommended the protection of the right to
education of migrants and displaced people and their inclusion into the National Education system as priority.
She stressed the need for more education support to address the needs of migrants and displaced people in humanitarian and development
aids.
(NAN)
