The Education 2030 High-level Steering Committee Meeting and Education Ministers Meeting were held on Nov. 8 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, on the sidelines of the 42nd UNESCO General Conference. Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng attended the meetings and delivered speeches.
As a member of the High-level Steering Committee for Education 2030, Huai made three major recommendations for the global transformation of education based on China’s experience. First, he emphasized the importance of financial investment in education and explained how China’s prioritization of public spending on education has supported education reform and progress. Secondly, he said that digital technology should be harnessed. He highlighted China’s success in digitizing education and creating the world’s largest national smart education platform. He noted that digitalization is a powerful tool for driving educational change. Lastly, he stressed that teachers’ role as the driving force behind educational change should be recognized. He shared China’s systematic approach to teacher training and development, and called on other member states to establish cooperation networks for building teachers’ capacity.
The Education Ministers Meeting, which adopted the theme of “Education for Peace,” brought together education ministers from over 50 countries. During the event, Huai emphasized the critical role of economic development in improving people’s well-being and ultimately contributing to global peace. He said that prioritizing people’s needs is important to a country’s pursuit of quality development. In addition, he emphasized the role of education in equipping students with the skills and values needed for sustainable development.
Huai also highlighted the importance of fostering open cross-cultural communication and understanding through educational exchange and cooperation. He highlighted China’s commitment to an inclusive, people-centered approach to education. He said the country has achieved gender equality in access to education, eliminated poverty-related school dropouts, and played a vital role in reducing poverty and promoting shared prosperity. He also highlighted China’s tradition of peace and its commitment to providing quality, equitable education, improving vocational training, and pursuing international cooperation. The minister stressed that dialogue, understanding, and solidarity are essential for peace and sustainable development, and called on members of the UNESCO family to work together to ensure that children can thrive in a peaceful world.
