Education and Technological Transformations for…

The event will highlight the unprecedented technological changes in and through education both as means to mitigate the negative impact of COVID 19 and as a trend to reckoned with. It will amplify the messages that the use of new technologies and digital learning opportunities have become foundational in the advancement of the SDGs at all levels while creating changes for inclusive and sustainable progress, promoting equal participation of women and girls to exercise all human rights.

Consisting of a briefing session and an interactive discussion, the event will bring about key partners from UN member states ministries, private sector CEOs and civil servant' representatives, who will share lessons learned and commitments on the best use of accelerated technological changes to advance the achievement of SDG4, addressing the gender digital divide and inequalities, promoting equal and effective participation of people from all segments of society.

With less than 10 years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, COVID 19 has tested the resilience of the education systems worldwide.  Over a billion learners have been affected by school closures, creating a real risk of a 'lost generation', particularly among girls and young women. Yet, accelerated technological changes enabled the provision of digital learning opportunities for some, while the pandemic revealed and exacerbated existing inequalities across every aspect of our social, economic, and cultural lives.

More particularly, hastened technological adoption allowed teachers, learners, and education systems stay connected while delivering an unprecedented level of resources, services, and content to users. These products have also enabled education communities to remain connected during a period of pandemic isolation. However, the adoption of technologies also comes with challenges, including issues concerning access, scalability, training and ICT upskilling, and privacy and data concerns.