Blessing Dada, a UN youth leader, believes young people are key to crafting education policies that matter to them, and to crafting them for their future.
Dada, a leader on UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) SDG 4 High-Level Steering Committee, stresses that young people must be at the forefront of shaping education beyond 2030. The committee is responsible for overseeing progress on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
UN Youth Leader Seeks Younger Voices
Blessing Dada says, “The next decade will be crucial for determining the future of education, and we must ensure that young people – who will be the primary beneficiaries and leaders of this agenda – are equal partners in decision-making.” UNESCO’s SDG 4 High-Level Steering Committee is set to expire in 2030, making her call for equal partnership more pressing.
Empowering Young People in Education
The SDG 4 aims to achieve significant progress in education by 2030, with indicators including ensuring all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education. However, with young people making up nearly half of the global population, many have questioned whether UNESCO has done enough to empower them in education policies.
Dada’s call echoes a growing sentiment among young people worldwide who feel that their voices and experiences are not adequately represented in decision-making processes. What this means is that educators, policymakers, and governments will need to take concrete steps to ensure young people are at the center of education planning and policy-making.
As UNESCO marks a decade to SDG 4, young leaders like Blessing Dada are pushing for a more inclusive and participatory approach to shaping the post-2030 education agenda.
In doing so, Dada’s call represents an opportunity for UNESCO, governments, and educators to re-examine their approach to education – one that involves listening to the perspectives and needs of young people, and making meaningful changes that reflect their aspirations.
