Their teacher knows their journey

For thousands of students in Uganda’s Karamoja region, Teacher Evaline Akello is more than a teacher, she’s proof that their dreams are possible.

Evaline once sat where they sit now, a hungry child relying on the World Food Programme (WFP) school meals to stay in class. Today, her students see in her story a powerful message: with food, education and determination, their futures can be bigger than the challenges they face. Evaline's journey shows how one simple meal can change the course of not just one, but many lives.

In 2025, UNESCO awarded its inaugural Global Citizenship Education Prize to initiatives in Tanzania and Ecuador, recognizing outstanding global education impact.

Akimatou - from teen mother to trailblazer 

Akimatou, a 22-year old entrepreneur, is helping rewrite girls’ futures in Benin. After becoming a mother at 16 and leaving school, Akimatou turned her second chance into a mission - using bold comics and open conversations to help girls in Benin take control of their bodies and futures. Now a thriving entrepreneur and mentor, she’s transforming her own story of hardship into hope for an entire generation. Her work is part of a UNFPA-supported comprehensive sexuality education initiative that has driven big gains in reducing school-related pregnancies and expanding girls’ opportunities

Multilingual and multicultural societies rely on their languages to preserve traditional knowledge and culture. However, linguistic diversity is under threat as many languages face extinction and as 40% of people lack access to education in a language they understand. Progress is growing, especially in early schooling, as multilingual education gains recognition. This year’s International Mother Language Day (21 February) highlights youth voices and the importance of valuing every learner’s language to support identity, inclusion, and learning.

Education is crucial for children, providing safety during crises and reducing risks of child labor, early marriage, and recruitment by armed groups. It connects kids to essential services like clean water and nutritious meals, while also fostering hope and stability, ultimately leading to economic growth and reducing conflict. However, a recent UNICEF analysis indicates that international aid for education may drop by over US$3 billion by the end of 2026, potentially leaving 6 million more children out of school. This isn't just a financial adjustment; it's a significant threat to a whole generation’s future.

UNOPS is completing 62 Indigenous and Quilombola schools across Brazil, blending traditional knowledge with modern education to empower youth, preserve cultural identity, and promote sustainable development.

In the Kyiv region, a preschool education centre that once served over 80 children was severely damaged by a missile on 2 March 2022. The blast impacted on the building’s facade, roof, windows, doors, and heating system, making repairs unaffordable for the community. However, hope arose through the School Repairs in Ukraine project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS. Starting in 2024, UNOPS engineers will oversee extensive renovations, including restoration of the facade and roof, new windows and doors, and interior revitalization, creating a safe, modern space for young learners to thrive once again.

Despite war and devastation, initiatives like UNESCO’s Virtual Campus and Temporary Learning Spaces are helping Gaza’s students reconnect with learning, hope, and academic life.

Violence against children in armed conflict is rising, with education increasingly under attack. In the past year, attacks on schools surged by 44%, causing deaths, abductions, and trauma among students and teachers. These violations endanger lives and the future of communities. The UN urges nations to ensure safe access to education, invest in resilient systems, and uphold the Safe Schools Declaration. To mark the International Day to Protect Education from Attack (9 September), UNESCO and partners host a high-level event in Geneva under the theme “Challenging Narratives, Reshaping Action.”

Teachers cultivate essential skills like critical thinking and emotional intelligence that machines cannot teach. However, there's a global shortage of qualified teachers, with a need for 44 million more by 2030 to meet educational goals. Digital Learning Week 2025 addresses the challenges and opportunities AI presents in education. Militza Saavedra Montero, a teacher from Chile, views AI as beneficial, having gained valuable digital competencies through UNESCO training that helps her save time in the classroom. Militza feels that her role as a teacher is essential in helping students use technology with a critical mindset. The challenge is to teach people how to use AI responsibly.

For over 20 years, UNOPS has assisted the Argentinian government in advancing educational outcomes and ensuring inclusive learning opportunities through technical support, fund management, and transparent procurement processes.

Languages play a vital role in education and sustainable development, facilitating knowledge transfer and cultural preservation. With around 8,324 languages worldwide, many are endangered due to globalization. The 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day (21 February) highlights ongoing efforts to preserve linguistic diversity and promote mother tongues, emphasizing their importance in safeguarding cultural heritage. Established by UNESCO this day promotes inclusive societies and supports the preservation of non-dominant languages, ensuring equitable access to education for all.

Joseph Yambo, in his sixties, lives in Fada N’Gourma, in eastern Burkina Faso. An attack on his village in 2019 turned his life upside down. He lost his wife after fleeing, and his eldest daughter was forced to drop out of school to care for the family. She joined a radio education programme set up by the Government and implemented by the charity Children Believe. The programme offered her a second chance. Like Joseph, more than 2 million people in Burkina Faso – about 10 per cent of the population – had to flee their homes due to the security crisis affecting the country since 2019. The violence also forced thousands of schools to close. The Government reports that more than 1 million people returned home in the last year, and more than 2,000 schools reopened, but urgent needs remain. The Regional Humanitarian Fund for West and Central Africa, managed by OCHA, has invested in education projects to address the needs of displaced children.

2025 marks 100 years of quantum mechanics and has been declared by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. This global initiative highlights quantum science's transformative role in addressing challenges like clean energy, health, climate action, inequality reduction and economic growth. Through global cooperation, education, research, and innovation, quantum technology offers solutions to improve lives and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Join the worldwide celebration of quantum science's impact and potential throughout 2025!

Every first Thursday of November marks the International day against violence and bullying at school which highlights global efforts to combat school violence and cyberbullying.