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The international day against violence and bullying at school took place in November 2024. UNESCO uploaded an article together with further resources from the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children.

“This year’s [2024] theme builds on global commitments and underscores the urgency of addressing violence in and through education and investing in cross-sectoral partnerships. By amplifying learners’ perspectives and children’s voices, UNESCO calls on leaders to fulfill their commitments and promises to transform learning environments into safe and inclusive spaces where children can learn and thrive.”

Read the article and resources.

Transforming education and employment opportunities for children and young people with disabilities (Side Event, Action Day 1, Summit of the Future).

This video is from an event in September 2024: Sharing positive and practical solutions, speakers with lived experience outline how we can build inclusive systems so all children and young people can learn and access the workforce; and why assistive technology is crucial to this.

Watch the video (one hour and 21 minutes).

The World Bank has published a new ‘Inclusive Education Approach Paper’. This article introduces the paper:

Access, participation and achievement in education is still a challenge for learners with disabilities. Despite considerable progress worldwide to strengthen access to education and the quality of education, many of the most vulnerable and marginalized learners are still left behind. … The paper introduces four principles to support inclusion of any marginalized groups in education and focuses on applying these principles to disability inclusion in education.”

Read the blog.

“Disability should not be viewed as an inherent trait of an individual but as a result of societal barriers that prevent full participation. ..Trade unions representing teachers and education support personnel need to champion a new, inclusive model that actively breaks down these barriers.” writes Alan Hackett in this blog.

“When trade unions shift the focus from “what’s wrong” to “what needs to change,” they contribute to a truly inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and enables everyone to achieve their potential.”

Read the blog.

Following the COP29 in Baku, the World Bank has issued a video, blogs, a press release and a report on how education can equip young people to address the climate catastrophe and the impact climate change already has on education.

“Education is a key asset for climate action. Education reshapes behaviors, develops skills, and spurs innovation—everything we need to combat the greatest crisis facing humanity.”

Watch the video, download the report, and read the blogs and the press releases.

In an editorial and an opinion piece for The New Humanitarian, it is argued that aid agencies and development organisations in the Global North fear speaking out about war crimes in Gaza and become thereby complicit in them.

Read the editorial.

To read the opinion piece.

The city of Benguerir in Morocco has been awarded the UNESCO Learning City Award 2024. It has received the prize for its transformative approach to lifelong learning, including its approach to creating inclusive educational opportunities for out-of-school learners and for children with disabilities.

The “Second-Chance School” focuses on equity and inclusion to support marginalised youth to re-enter the education system. For children with disability, the city has a specialised centre for non-verbal children to foster an inclusive education model. This model has achieved a 100% integration rate for nonverbal children in state schools, where they learn alongside their peers.

Read the story.

Read more about the other awardees.

Save the Children has shared the analysis of their case management data which shows that 43% of children are suffering from psychosocial distress.

“The war in Ukraine is taking an increasingly heavy toll on children’s mental health with some developing speech defects and uncontrollable twitching, while others have terrible nightmares and scream in their sleep, according to Save the Children.”

Read the article. 

In this feature, the UN Girls’ Education Initiative share how feminist leaders change education in the Sahel region:

“These young activists are not just participants — they are pioneers who play a crucial role in planning and implementing inclusive education policies.”

Read stories from Niger and Mali.

“GCI (Gender as the Centre Initiative) has started supporting the Feminist Youth Coalitions for Gender-Transformative Education — as part of the global youth-led network Transform Education. Their mission is to amplify the voices of young feminists in education decision-making, foster solidarity among gender activists, and integrate gender expertise rooted in lived experience into the education sector.”

Community groups and mutual aid networks in war-hit parts of Sudan have set up learning centres and safe spaces for children amid almost two years of disrupted schooling. Emergency response room volunteers said they have programmes that fund teachers to provide national curriculum lessons, and other projects that offer informal education as well as activities like art, sports, and music in child-friendly safe spaces.

“I can’t help but feel hopeful, seeing my children partake in these classes.” (Tarig, a parent)

Read the article.