Over the last year, there has been a sudden and profound shift in the role of digital technology in education systems around the world. Many countries have turned to online learning platforms after temporarily closing their schools and other learning spaces to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are growing concerns that the global move toward online learning and other forms of educational technology could be leaving girls and young women behind.
This high-level, private event organized by UNESCO, the Varkey Foundation, and CJ Cultural Foundation will bring together a small group of leaders from across the public, private and philanthropic sectors to discuss girls' digital access, skills and online learning and to consider the actions needed to address them. Participants will hear the latest thinking from a range of experts, as well as moving testimonies from classroom teachers, young people and others who are working to close gender gaps in digital access, skills and online learning. It will address three key themes:
Equality: Closing the gender gaps in girls’ access to online education and in digital skills.
Safety: Ensuring safe, inclusive and gender-responsive online learning spaces.
Empowerment: Leveraging the potential of technology to advance education and gender equality, with a focus on the most marginalized.
The event will be filmed, edited and rebroadcast for wider public viewing and engagement following the event.
For more information, contact: gender.ed@unesco.org