UNESCO and UNICEF jointly organize sub-regional workshop on Education Statistics

UNESCO and UNICEF kicked-off a four-day sub-regional training workshop on Education Statistics. The workshop, organized in cooperation with the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO and the University of Tehran, brought together participants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, AVA Diplomatic reports.

Last month, the UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office organized a similar training in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

The aim of the workshop is to strengthen skills and knowledge in compiling, processing and disseminating quality education data and statistics with a view to better monitor the countries’ progress against SDG 4.

During the opening ceremony of the workshop, Ms. Esther Kuisch Laroche, Director of the UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office, welcomed the participants and talked about the importance of SDG 4.

“Due to its transformative power, education is key to the success of every one of the 17 new sustainable development goals”, said Ms. Kuisch Laroche. “Now, more than ever, education has a responsibility to be in gear with 21st century challenges and aspirations, and foster the right types of values and skills that will lead to sustainable and inclusive growth, and peaceful living together.”

The UNESCO Representative also underlined the critical importance of quality data. “Data is absolutely crucial for countries to be able to develop evidence-based policies in order to address inequalities and ensure quality education and relevant lifelong learning opportunities for all, and also to monitor their progress against the SDG 4 targets and indicators.”

The UNICEF Representative, Mr. Will Parks, stressed the importance of quality education as a corner stone for sustainable development: “At this very moment that we have gathered here with different educational and career backgrounds and different knowledge and experiences, we all agree on one thing; that quality education is critical to development both of societies and of individuals, and it helps pave the way to a successful and productive future. When all children have access to a quality education, it creates a ripple effect of opportunity that influences generations to come. Education regenerates cycles of Welfare and Health and provides a foundation for sustainable development. That is why provision of quality education for all children is key to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal no. 4 on inclusive and quality education”, said Mr. Parks.

The four-day workshop, facilitated by experts from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, will cover a wide range of topics, including: national data collection, processing and dissemination systems in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan; the current situation of education achievement in the sub-region; SDG4 and its implications for national education development; strengthening administrative data systems; and the use of household surveys and census to monitor education.

The participants will also discuss existing data gaps and possible solutions and review their countries’ readiness for SDG 4.

This workshop is part of a range of activities that UNESCO and UNICEF will be organizing jointly to support the Islamic Republic of Iran and its neighboring countries in the implementation of the 2030 Education Agenda.