📚 International Day of Education

• International Day of Education: The House of Commons discussed the significance of the United Nations International Day of Education, stressing education’s role in empowering individuals, strengthening economies, and ensuring human rights.

• Global Education Progress and Challenges: Notable strides in increasing global school enrollment were acknowledged, but challenges remain, including 251 million children and youths still out of school. Regional disparities and crises such as conflicts and climate change were highlighted as significant barriers to education.

• Impact of Crises on Education: The debate covered the severe impact of crises on education, with 224 million children lacking access to education due to forced displacement, humanitarian crises, and climate change. Specific mention was made of conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.

• Education Aid and Funding: Concerns were raised about the global education financing gap, estimated at £100 billion annually. The session noted a decline in UK education aid, from 13.5% to 3.5% of bilateral official development assistance over the past decade.

• Role of Teachers: The importance of qualified teachers was emphasized, with a call for a global teacher strategy and potentially a global fund to support teachers’ salaries, particularly in crisis areas.

• Inclusive and Equitable Education: The need for inclusive education, especially for children with disabilities and in crisis situations, was a key focus. The link between education, water, and sanitation was also discussed, highlighting the importance of integrated development goals.

• Advocacy for Safe Schools: There was a strong push for the protection of schools in conflict zones, with the UK Government urged to champion initiatives like the Safe Schools Declaration.

• UK’s Role and Commitment: The debate concluded with reaffirmation of the UK’s commitment to support global education, particularly in crisis-affected areas. The government’s plans to increase aid and continue supporting educational initiatives were acknowledged.

The session demonstrates limited explicit disagreement, with most contributions focusing on shared goals around global education challenges. While differing emphases exist (e.g., critiques of UK aid budget reductions from Liberal Democrat MPs vs. the Minister’s defense of current efforts), these are framed as constructive critiques rather than partisan conflicts. All parties agree on the fundamental importance of education and the need for international action. The debate centers on implementation priorities (funding levels, focus regions) rather than ideological divides. Minor tensions emerge around spending choices (e.g., asylum hotel costs vs. overseas aid), but these are addressed through policy explanations rather than direct confrontation.