Antonio Guterres, el secretario general de la Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU). Foto Ap
Nueva Delhi. El secretario general de la Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU), Antonio Guterres, advirtió este viernes que el mundo enfrenta riesgos de conflicto al agrandarse las divisiones entre los países, en vísperas de la cumbre del G20 en Nueva Delhi.
«Si realmente somos una familia mundial, hoy parecemos una familia bastante disfuncional», declaró Guterres en conferencia de prensa en la capital india, donde sábado y domingo se reunirá el grupo de las 20 grandes economías.
«Las divisiones están creciendo, las tensiones están surgiendo y la confianza se erosiona, lo que en conjunto aumenta el espectro de la fragmentación y, en última instancia, de la confrontación», alertó.
El diplomático portugués afirmó que el mundo atraviesa una difícil transición y las instituciones de gobernanza mundial están desfasadas para hacer frente a la nueva realidad.
«La arquitectura financiera global está desactualizada, es disfuncional e injusta. Requiere una profunda reforma estructural y lo mismo se puede decir del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU», agregó Guterres.
We have partnered with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to train one million entrepreneurs.
We are extending our partnership with the Ministry of Education to empower students and educators via programs with CBSE and AICTE.
To bring together our work across education and skilling, mapping the journey of India’s students from the classroom to the workforce, we have announced a three-year partnership with the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to empower students, educators, and entrepreneurs across India.
Under the partnership, we have signed three Letters of Intent (LoI) – with the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) which is engaged in training, consultancy and research to promote entrepreneurship and skill development in India, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), a statutory body, and a national-level council for technical education, under the Department of Higher Education and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the national level board of education in India for public and private schools.
“Education to Entrepreneurship’ partnership is a game-changer, which will take Digital Skilling to the grassroots. This will build capacities of our talent pool, seamlessly connect students, youth, workforce & micro-entrepreneurs, with futuristic technologies and transform our Amrit Peedhi into new-age problem solvers and entrepreneurs. India’s democracy, demography, and diversity are to be connected with technology conversion so that technology becomes the equalizer for the entire society. Guided by the tenets of NEP, META’s partnerships with NIESBUD, CBSE & AICTE will catalyse infinite possibilities for equipping our population with critical digital skills and empowering micro entrepreneurs and small businesses.” – Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
“The Government’s focus on preparing our youth and workforce in these rapidly transforming times, to be equipped with the skills to succeed and play important roles in the evolving landscape of technology and the global economy. Digital skills, while representing skilling and entrepreneurship in the innovation ecosystem, more importantly represents a bridge between lakhs of small rural, micro and self-employed entrepreneurs, enabling them to expand, grow and succeed.” – Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
“India’s G20 Presidency has showcased its success in its digital transformation initiatives. Meta has partnered with several working groups and agencies to advance India’s G20 priorities, from job creation, promoting creator economy and skill development to user safety and education. To build further on the partnership in the year of India’s presidency of G20, this collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is yet another testament of our long-term commitment to partnering with the government to advance India’s agenda of digital inclusion, skilling and growth and aligns with our values of building communities and bringing the world together.” – Sandhya Devanathan, Head & Vice President, Meta in India
Advancing Entrepreneurship Program with NIESBUD
Under the partnership with NIESBUD, one million entrepreneurs will get access to digital marketing skills by Meta over the next 3 years. Further, budding and existing entrepreneurs will be trained in digital marketing skills using Meta platforms: Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram in 7 regional languages. 50 impact stories from regional languages will be identified. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) will be the implementation partners for the initiative.
Emerging Technology in Education
Meta launched the Creators of Metaverse program with AICTE earlier in July this year, whereby 100,000 students and 20,000 educators will be enabled in AR,VR, AI and XR technologies. Further, a 2-year AVGC-XR-AI diploma course to be introduced for students across AICTE affiliated colleges. Meta will continue providing end-to-end training and upskilling support for students and teachers and to help build curricula on AI, AR, and XR technologies. The course will help the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector to upskill students preparing them to be job ready.
Meta also has an ongoing partnership with CBSE that commenced in December 2021, whereby 10 million students and 1 million educators will be trained in AR, VR, AI, and Digital Citizenship. Meta will continue providing end-to-end training and upskilling support for students and teachers until 2026.
Earlier this year, Meta also partnered with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship for a G20 event showcasing innovations in skilling and the role of advanced technologies (VR & AR) for skill enablement.
The Ministry of Education and UNESCO today launched an innovative comic book aimed at enhancing health and well-being of school going children across the nation. The comic book, titled «Let’s Move Forward,» was officially released by Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister of Education, and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, in a special ceremony held at Kaushal Bhawan in New Delhi.
The event was graced by senior government officials, policy makers, institutions under the Ministry of Education, UN Agencies, and other partners.
The comic book developed jointly by NCERT and UNESCO New Delhi will serve as a useful resource to promote health and wellness of school going children in an engaging and relatable format. Through captivating narratives and interesting characters, it covers a wide range of topics namely, growing up healthy; emotional well-being and mental health; interpersonal relationships; values and citizenship; gender equality; nutrition, health and sanitation; prevention and management of substance abuse; promotion of healthy lifestyles; reproductive health and HIV prevention; safety and security against violence and injuries; promotion of internet safety and responsible social media behaviour.
The comic book has been designed to be an interactive and educational tool to compliment the implementation of the School Health and Wellness Programme under Ayushman Bharat. To ensure easy accessibility and wider dissemination among learners across the country, the comic book is available in print as well as digital formats in Hindi, English, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odiya, Tamil and Telegu.
Our goal is to empower our adolescents with the knowledge and skills they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. This comic book is a testament to our commitment to their well-being and reflects our dedication to providing education that goes beyond textbooks.
Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister of Education
We believe that children and young people must have access to safe, inclusive, and health-promoting learning environments, and this is one of UNESCO’s important strategic education priorities. UNESCO is honoured to collaborate with the Ministry of Education in launching this comic book which aims to not only promote awareness and knowledge among adolescents on health and wellness, but also make it a fundamental part of daily life.
Benno Boer, Officer-in-Charge, UNESCO New Delhi, in his welcome address.
The National Curriculum Framework, 2023 has emphasized that School Education should be a wholesome experience for students, and they should acquire knowledge, capacities, and dispositions that keep their bodies and mind healthy.
The Ministry of Education is committed to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which highlights that quality education, good health and well-being, gender equality and human rights are intrinsically intertwined. Through collaborative efforts with other institutions, such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women and Child, the Ministry of Education supports programmes to promote health and wellbeing of adolescents through provision of age-appropriate health education; opportunities to develop life skills and health services that are equitable, appropriate and effective.
About UNESCO
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO’s programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.
In this spirit, UNESCO develops educational tools to help people live as global citizens free of hate and intolerance. UNESCO works so that each child and citizen has access to quality education. By promoting cultural heritage and the equal dignity of all cultures, UNESCO strengthens bonds among nations. UNESCO fosters scientific programmes and policies as platforms for development and cooperation. UNESCO stands up for freedom of expression, as a fundamental right and a key condition for democracy and development. Serving as a laboratory of ideas, UNESCO helps countries adopt international standards and manages programmes that foster the free flow of ideas and knowledge sharing.
Edtech platforms help students overcome obstacles on their path to a comprehensive education
Edtech startups are changing the way the world perceives education. Experts agree that the future of education lies in the new tech areas of data science, cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and applicable skill-based tools. Edtech is becoming a platform where coming generations can pursue their higher education targets and pick up new industry skills.
The global education technology market was valued at US$123.40 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.6% from 2023 to 2030. EdTech solutions are expected to evolve in line with the advances in the latest technologies, such as IoT, AI, and AR/VR, and contribute significantly to the market’s growth. Integrating AR and VR in EdTech solutions helps offer an interactive experience to learners. It allows learners to explore and connect seamlessly with abstract concepts and drives student engagement.
To increase learning in classrooms and improve students’ educational outcomes, education technology (EdTech) refers to hardware and software used to educate students virtually. By leveraging technology for learning and teaching, edtech platforms help students overcome obstacles to a comprehensive education. Learning materials that can be found online from anywhere in the world, such as eBooks, are becoming more and more popular. Compared to printed content, which has more significant manufacturing costs, digital content is easier to create.
By adopting AR techniques, teachers could convert abstract concepts into lessons that encourage students to learn effectively and efficiently. Even professions and institutes that were slow to adopt technology for educational purposes are now pivoting to cope with the changes. A more extensive user base can simply translate and access digital books available in various languages. Additionally, students can listen to the educational material in an audio version to expand their vocabulary and develop better interpretive reading, especially those with physical limitations.
Somaya Faruqi, Campeona Mundial de la ECW, reflexiona sobre los dos años transcurridos desde la toma del poder de facto en Afganistán y la prohibición impuesta a la educación de las niñas.
Hace hoy dos años, Somaya Faruqi, entonces una adolescente de 19 años, estaba junto a otras nueve chicas de su equipo de robótica en de Kabul cuando las autoridades de facto tomaron el poder en Afganistán. El equipo había acudido a la capital para participar en una competición de robótica. Nunca imaginaron que aquello marcaría el comienzo de un viaje que las alejaría de su querido país y cambiaría sus vidas para siempre.
Somaya mira fijamente a lo lejos mientras recuerda el momento en el que se dirigían al aeropuerto de Kabul. Junto a ellas había otros miles de personas: hombres armados patrullando las calles, niños perdidos llorando por sus padres, madres buscándoles histéricas por los edificios, cadáveres y heridos por el suelo.
«Las soñadoras afganas», su equipo robótica había aparecido regularmente en las noticias afganas por su trabajo en ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas (STEM) y por su participación activa en la sociedad. Pero de un día para otro ya no estaban a salvo en Afganistán. Así que Somaya y los miembros de su equipo tuvieron que huir y ponerse a buen recaudo en Qatar.
Durante dos meses permanecieron en Doha. «Fue un periodo difícil. La mayoría de nosotras nos sentíamos muy deprimidas. Cada vez que empezábamos a hablar de Afganistán, llorábamos. Era difícil hablar de lo que habíamos presenciado en esos últimos días», recuerda Somaya.
El 18 de septiembre, a las pocas semanas de tomar el poder, las autoridades de facto impusieron la prohibición de que las niñas asistieran a la escuela secundaria. A pesar de sus promesas de reabrir la escuela a todas las niñas en unos meses, la prohibición se ha mantenido estrictamente, y se ha ampliado en los últimos dos años.
Lejos de casa
Somaya terminó el 12º curso en Qatar, desde donde solicitó plaza en la universidad y recibió una beca del Fondo Qatarí para el Desarrollo para cursar estudios de ingeniería en Estados Unidos. Desde niña sólo soñaba con ser ingeniera, pero nunca imaginó que tendría que dejar su país para conseguirlo.
«Lo que había soñado de niña comparado con mi realidad de ahora es muy diferente. Estudio lo que siempre quise estudiar, pero nunca imaginé que tendría que huir de mi país para hacerlo. A veces, me siento culpable de poder estudiar cuando mis antiguas compañeras ni siquiera pueden ir a la escuela en Afganistán, y algunas se han visto obligadas a casarse a una edad temprana», explica Somaya.
Hoy, mientras Somaya cursa una carrera de ingeniería en Estados Unidos, no puede creer que haya pasado un segundo año y que a sus amigas de Afganistán se les haya negado su derecho humano inherente a la educación, a aprender y a perseguir sus propios sueños.
La necesidad de seguir apoyando a las mujeres y niñas afganas
Ahora, con 21 años, Somaya afirma que la situación de las niñas en el país es incomprensible. «A las niñas se les ha prohibido el acceso a los espacios públicos: escuelas, gimnasios, parques; no se les permite hacer nada; sólo quedarse en casa. Muchas se han visto obligadas a casarse», afirma, y añade que la situación está afectando enormemente a la salud mental de las niñas. «La depresión es generalizada. La tasa de suicidios de niñas ha aumentado mucho en los últimos dos años. Es trágico».
Somaya insiste en la urgente necesidad de apoyar recursos de salud mental en línea para ayudar a las niñas y mujeres atrapadas en casa a sobrellevar las penurias que sufren y ayudarlas a recuperarse y mantener la esperanza. «La situación es especialmente difícil para las niñas obligadas a casarse. Tiene que haber más esfuerzos y campañas para concienciar y cambiar las normas culturales que empujan a las familias a casar a sus hijas.»
¿Qué la hace seguir adelante en los días más difíciles?
La resistencia de las niñas afganas que viven en una situación imposible pero se aferran a la esperanza de volver a la escuela algún día. Y, las mujeres afganas en las calles arriesgando sus vidas para protestar por sus derechos.
«La valentía de estas niñas de Afganistán me da fuerzas para usar mi propia voz como activista y como Campeona Mundial de la ECW para amplificar sus voces ante el mundo. También me inspira en mis propios estudios de ingeniería porque conozco el valor de la oportunidad de educación que tengo, una que a ellas se les niega de forma inaceptable.»
Nota: Desde septiembre de 2021, la prohibición ha dejado a 1,1 millones de niñas y mujeres jóvenes del país sin acceso a la educación formal. En diciembre de 2022 se prohibió además la educación universitaria para las mujeres.
Para alzar las voces de las niñas de Afganistán a las que se niega el acceso a la educación y al futuro por el que han trabajado y con el que han soñado. La ECW, en colaboración con Somaya Faruqi, lanza el 15 de agosto de 2015 la campaña #AfghanGirlsVoices, que durará un mes y pondrá de relieve sus voces.
India at a crossroads on its 77th Independence Day; focus on quality of education needed amidst progress in enrolments.
On the dawn of India’s 77th Independence Day, the nation, with its rich tapestry of history, culture, and diversity, stands at a significant crossroads. The tricolour unfurls with pride, echoing the dreams, aspirations, and challenges of over a billion souls. Among the myriad sectors that have witnessed progress since 1947, education remains a cornerstone.
While the country has made commendable strides in school enrolments, especially post-pandemic, the quality of educational outcomes demands deeper introspection and proactive action.
The recent Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022 provides a detailed perspective into this educational landscape. Schools, rejuvenated after their prolonged closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, witnessed a heartening surge in enrolment figures for the 6 to 14 years age group.
However, juxtaposed against this is the sobering reality of declining reading abilities among children, reminiscent of levels a decade ago. As India celebrates its 77th year of freedom, the question arises:
Is mere enrolment enough, or is it time to shift the focus to the quality of education?
The challenges are manifold. Many schools, especially in the rural heartlands, grapple with infrastructural inadequacies. In an era heralded as the digital age, a mere 12% of schools in India are equipped with internet facilities. The digital divide is further accentuated by the absence of basic amenities, deterring consistent attendance and effective learning. Economic constraints, coupled with a lack of interest in studies, have led to alarmingly high dropout rates. The fierce competition for securing seats in premier institutions has also catalysed a brain drain, with many of India’s brightest minds seeking educational avenues abroad.
Yet, the 77th year of India’s independence is not just a time for reflection but also a call to action.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emerges as a beacon of hope in this context. With its vision to make India a ‘global knowledge superpower’, the NEP advocates a holistic approach to education. The emphasis on experiential learning, integration of Artificial Intelligence, and linguistic inclusivity are steps in the right direction.
However, as India celebrates this significant milestone, it’s imperative to remember that the journey doesn’t end with policy formulation; it begins there. The successful realization of the NEP’s vision necessitates collective action, commitment, and collaboration. It’s not just about filling classrooms; it’s about nurturing minds, kindling aspirations, and crafting a future replete with promise.
The road to educational excellence is paved with challenges, but it’s these very challenges that offer opportunities for growth. The digital divide, for instance, can be bridged through public-private partnerships, leveraging technology to bring quality education to the remotest corners of the country. The high dropout rates can be addressed through community engagement, understanding the root causes, and crafting solutions tailored to regional needs.
Moreover, as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it’s essential for India’s education system to be globally competitive yet rooted in its rich cultural heritage. The ancient Gurukul system, which emphasized holistic development, offers valuable insights. By integrating its principles with modern pedagogical techniques, a balanced approach to education can be achieved.
Furthermore, the emphasis on vocational training in the NEP is a step in the right direction. In a country as diverse as India, one size doesn’t fit all. By offering students a plethora of choices, from traditional academic courses to vocational training, the education system can cater to varied interests and aptitudes.
In addition, the role of educators cannot be understated. Teachers are the backbone of any educational system, and their training, development, and well-being are paramount. Continuous professional development programs, peer learning, and exposure to global best practices can enhance the quality of teaching, leading to improved learning outcomes.
Another crucial aspect is parental and community involvement. Education is not limited to the four walls of a classroom. Parents, guardians, and the community play a pivotal role in shaping a child’s learning journey. Regular parent-teacher meetings, community-driven educational initiatives, and collaborative projects can foster a conducive learning environment.
In conclusion, as the tricolour flutters majestically against the azure skies on India’s 77th Independence Day, the nation stands poised for change. The path forward is clear: transcend the confines of enrolment and venture into the realm of qualitative educational outcomes. As India steps into its 77th year of freedom, let the clarion call be for an educational renaissance, where every child not only goes to school but also receives an education that empowers, enlightens, and elevates.
The journey ahead is long, but with collective will and action, India can script a narrative of educational excellence, worthy of its rich legacy and promising future. As the nation stands on the cusp of a new dawn, let education be the torchbearer, illuminating the path to progress, prosperity, and unparalleled potential.
(Author Shobhit Mathur is Co-founder and Vice Chancellor of Rishihood University. Views expressed here are personal.)
