UNESCO, the Equitable Education Fund (Thailand), and partners envision more accessible and sustainable education systems at the 3rd International Conference on Equitable Education
Bangkok, 21 October – An urgent call for the collaborative reimagination of education systems for all and the promotion of lifelong learning were at the core of the 3rd International Conference on Equitable Education, which was hosted by UNESCO and the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) Thailand and partners from 18 to 19 October in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Held under the theme “Reimagining Education, Co-Creating Lifelong Learning for Youth and Adults,” the conference drew approximately 260 on-site attendees – among them education experts, policymakers and youth leaders – with over 3,000 additionally joining online, to focus on flexible learning opportunities, skills development for all, and international collaboration.
Marina Patrier, Deputy Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, highlighted the critical importance of a whole-of-society approach to building more equitable learning systems and making lifelong learning accessible to all. “In a world where technology and industries evolve so rapidly, lifelong learning is essential,” she stressed, while citing the critical importance of teacher’s voices to innovative policy development.
Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Education, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, underscored the importance of regional collaboration to ensure that all children have access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities. “It requires our joint efforts to reach our shared goals,” he stated, while underscoring Thailand’s commitment to the region’s educational equity agenda.
The conference also prioritized the inclusion of youth as a key issue. Nurhayati Sultan, co-founder and Director of Youth Empowerment and Digital Literacy at the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, shared how refugees are excluded from the education system and called for their access to education. Nada Binroheem, president of the Children and Youth Council of Thailand, spoke about the unique challenges faced by youth from migrant and poor Muslim communities in Pattani Province, Thailand, suggesting that they be welcomed to work with education policymakers.
Embracing the perspective of youth informed the remarks of Severine Leonardi, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Thailand, who outlined five key policy priorities: student-centered learning, inclusive digital learning, investment in early years, skills-based education, and strengthened teacher training.
Other dominant themes included the importance of how learning must be innovative and adaptable; the potential of technology as a tool for fostering a more inclusive learning environment; and engagement with local communities for local solutions and sustainable development.
John Arnold Siena, Deputy Director for Programme and Development of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat, highlighted how investments in education should focus on addressing equity because “leveraging technology can significantly improve access to education for marginalized children.” He noted, “Empowering communities with targeted support is essential to ensure that solutions are inclusive and effective for all.”
Cahyo Prihadi, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Programme Management Office of Kartu Prakerja, Republic of Indonesia, observed that technology plays a vital role in enhancing program outcomes, saying, “Reducing inequality in lifelong learning requires a comprehensive, customer-centric approach that addresses access, relevance, and inclusivity.”
Dr Kraiyos Patrawart, Managing Director of EEF Thailand, called the event “a significant milestone in promoting equitable education.” He indicated that while the focus is on engagement for impact in the ‘All for Education’ movement, the Equitable Education Alliance can be the platform for a community of practice for equitable education. “Our efforts toward equitable education will continue.”
The recent international conference on equitable education emphasized the importance of creating a more inclusive, flexible education system. Key takeaways include
- Ensuring access to education as a fundamental right and tailoring learning opportunities for all, regardless of background.
- The curriculum must be relevant to real-world applications, preparing students for future careers.
- Significant investments in education are needed to improve the quality of educators, tools, and resources.
- Decentralization is highlighted as a solution to address local educational needs.
- Governments must act as facilitators, bridging policy gaps.
- Collaborative efforts across all sectors are essential to achieve quality education for all by 2030.
The conference was the third in the series since it was launched in 2021. A full version of the conference’s outcome document will be available on the conference website at https://afe2024.eef.or.th/ at a later date.
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About the Equitable Education Alliance (EEA)
The EEA was established by the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok) and The Equitable Education Fund (EEF) Thailand in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of bringing together government, civil society, and private sector partners towards narrowing the educational equity gap and to collectively advocate more inclusive educational systems in Asia-Pacific. At present, the EEA comprises 19 countries and 23 organizations regionally.
About the International Conference on Equitable Education
The 3rd International Conference on Equitable Education was organized by UNESCO Bangkok and the EEF Thailand in partnership with the Ministry of Education of Thailand; Equitable Education Alliance (EEA); the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office; UNICEF Thailand; and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). Additional conference partners included the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, Cambodia; UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific; National Institute for Lifelong Education, Republic of Korea; Programme Management Office of Kartu Prakerja, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia; Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education; and Princess Maha Chakri Award.
For more information, please contact afeconference@eef.or.th
