Why is the International Day of Education celebrated?

This Sunday was the International Day of Education. The United Nations defines education as “a human right, a public good, and a collective responsibility.” This is why they established 24 January as International Education Day, to raise awareness around the world of its importance, as well as to celebrate its role in development.

Education is the key to lifting many people out of poverty, as it provides tools and opens many doors. Despite being a right, it is not accessible to everyone. 262 million children and young people of school age are still out of school, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa and conflict-affected areas. Also, some 617 million young people around the world do not reach a minimum level of literacy and numeracy.

Not only is it key to development and breaking poverty, but it is also key to gender equality. Data show that far more girls than boys are out of school – in fact, less than 40% of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary education.

The Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, the UN approved an agenda of sustainable development goals for 2030. The agenda is structured around 17 goals in different areas: from poverty, climate change, and education; to infrastructure, energy, and economic growth. Since then, many countries, regions, and companies have signed up to them and are working to achieve them.

The 4th goal

Goal 4 of the SDGs focuses on education. It aims to ensure quality and equitable education, as well as eliminating gender disparities and ensuring equal access at all levels of education. It also aims to increase scholarships for developing countries and the number of qualified teachers to teach in these countries.

What are the current challenges in education worldwide?

Despite progress, we are still far from meeting the targets. Before the pandemic, the numbers were already pessimistic. The arrival of Covid-19 has had a very negative impact on the educational situation in many parts of the world. The pandemic has put many children at risk of exclusion and has accentuated previously existing inequalities. Not having access to education determines not only the future but also everyday life. Some 369 million children depended on school canteens for their daily meals and have had to find other sources of food.

Also, it is estimated that only 65% of primary schools worldwide have basic hand-washing facilities. The lack of essential infrastructure in schools will make a return to normalcy after Covid-19 much more difficult.

TBS’s commitment

At TBS, we are aware of the importance of education and the responsibility it entails. That is why our programs place great importance on corporate social responsibility and promoting projects in line with sustainable development goals.

If you have ideas and want to contribute to making education more accessible to everyone, find out more about our programs and start your projects. Check out our Bachelor in Management, our Master in Management, or our five MSc programs.