PURPOSE: The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. Education transforms lives and breaks the cycle of poverty that traps so many children. Education for girls is essential — an educated mother will make sure her children go to and stay in school. This is fundamental, especially when more than 250 million children and youth are out of school globally, and most of those in school are not acquiring the basic skills. Additionally, 44 million teachers are needed to achieve universal primary and secondary education by 2030. These challenges are compounded further by the lack of adequate resources for education. More than 70% of countries allocate less than 4% of GDP to education.
FORUM: “AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation.“ International Day of Education 2025. As computer and AI-driven systems become more sophisticated, the boundaries between human intention and machine-driven action often blur, raising critical questions about how to preserve, redefine, and, ideally, elevate human agency in an age of technological acceleration. Under the theme “AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation”, the 2025 edition will inspire reflections on the power of education to equip individuals and communities navigate, understand and influence technological advancement. The International Day for Education 2025 aims to: • Examine new possibilities offered by AI, especially for teaching, learning, assessment and educational administration. • Promote the development of critical AI literacies by equipping educators and learners with the competencies needed to understand, use and influence AI technologies, in line with the UNESCO AI competency frameworks for teachers and students. • Ensure that AI complements, rather than replaces, the essential human elements of learning, including the cultivation of in-person relationships and emotional intelligence. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #EndLearningPoverty, #Education2030, #DayofEducation, #24January, #EducationforPeace, #Learningforpeace, #education, SDG4.
EVENT: Organized by UNESCO and the UN Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning, the International Day of Education 2025 will delve into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in reshaping education and learning. By dedicating this year edition to artificial intelligence, UNESCO is aiming for a global discussion on the place of this technology within education. The Organization has scheduled conferences in Paris and New York, as well as a webinar.
On January 24th, the high-level event to celebrate the International Day of Education 2025 will be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in education and lifelong learning today, innovate teaching and learning practices, and accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4. However, rapid technological developments inevitably bring multiple risks and challenges, which have so far outpaced policy debates and regulatory frameworks. Current policies on AI and lifelong learning often adopt an instrumental and technologically deterministic approach, prioritising efficiency over human development and agency. The participants will explore how education can help people understand and steer Artificial Intelligence to better ensure that they retain control over this new class of technology and are able to direct it towards desired objectives that respect human rights and advance progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Get the UNESCO’s concept note for the 2025 celebration, the agenda programme and watch the event!
WEBINAR: On January 24th, 2025 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm, a seminar and training entitled ‘Lifelong learning in the age of AI’ will be held online. The webinar will bring together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to revisit the idea of lifelong learning in the age of emerging technologies, with thematic focus on lifelong learning as a concept, workplace learning, digital competencies of adult educators, and bridging the grey digital divide. The Objectives of the event is to Discuss current trends, in policy, research, and innovative practices in emerging technologies such as AI and its relation to lifelong learning and the concept of agency; To Highlight the role of adult learning and education, in fostering digital competencies with a focus on adult educators and bridging the grey digital divide and to Engage educators and participants in interactive discussions and activities to foster a deeper understanding of AI and emerging technologies in adult education settings. The webinar is open to all interested stakeholders. Please register to participate!
STATEMENTS: Read the Statement by the United Nations Secretary-General on International Day of Education 2025; January 24th and the Statement of the Director-General of the UNESCO on International Day of Education 2025; January 24th.
PODCASTS: UNESCO is committed to supporting Member States to harness the potential of AI technologies for achieving the promise of lifelong learning opportunities for all, while ensuring that its application in the learning contexts is guided by the core principles of inclusion and equity. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Join the 2025 International Day of Education Campaign. Take action to End Learning Poverty through equitable, resilient, and effective education systems as well as lifelong learning opportunities. Explore the UNESCO’s ‘‘Right To Education’’ campaign and help spread the word to ensure that everyone has the right to education. Get the Communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE IT!
For the first time in human history, an entire generation of children globally have had their education disrupted. And yet, this emergency comes on top of an existing learning crisis. Even before the pandemic struck, millions of children were not going to school and not learning.
ACTIONS
Generate visibility from local to global level on prioritizing education to reach the SDGs ahead of the SDG Summit, building on the outcomes of the TES.
Promote and showcase the national statements of commitment at country level and mobilize political and financial support for translating them into action.
Encourage wide take-up of the global initiatives launches at the TES to accelerate foundational learning, get every learner climate ready through greening education, promote public digital learning, advance gender equality in and through education and ensure learning continuity in situations of emergency and protracted crisis.
Advocate for higher levels of domestic and international financing, including through innovative sources, building on commitments at the TES.
Provide youth a platform to build on the TES youth declaration, relay their demands and showcase their initiatives and innovations to advance the right to education.
Rally influencers to push forward the global education movement calling on world leaders to stand by their commitments and prioritize investment in education and educational transformation.
Partners
The International Day of Education is organized in partnership with the UNESCO New York Office, UNHQ, the Global Partnership for Education and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies (CRI), the Global Education Coalition. With the participation of State governments, the International and Regional organizations, the Civil society organizations; rhe Non-Governmental Organizations, the teachers, The Education professionals, the private sector and academics.
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Every child deserves the opportunity to learn. We work around the world to reach those children who are missing out most on learning and education. Globally, we ensure that no child’s learning stops because they are caught up in crisis. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, 258 million children were out of school, including 130 million girls. And even when children were at school, many were not learning. The world’s children deserve better.