Once again, De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) took part in this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Education on January 25, 2021. The theme for 2021 is “Recover and Revitalize Education for the Covid-19 Generation.”
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has proclaimed January 24 of every year as International Day of Education to mark the tole of education in peace and development.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), “Education is a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility.” It remains a great equalizer. “Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.”
DLSL believes in the efficient delivery of quality education amid the Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. In fact, DLSL launched its “Borderfree Education” fully online platform to continuously promote excellence among its students by way of wellness and development and education for professional growth.
Incidentally, many schools globally have shut down while quarantine measures and safety/health protocols adversely affected the efficient delivery of learning to students.
Governments, together with health officials and the business sector, have been doing their best to slow down the pandemic. On the other hand, global education systems have united to mutually respond and provide quality learning during these daunting times.
As envisioned by UNESCO, the celebration was defined along with three primary segments. These are “learning heroes, innovations, and financing.” The main proponents include the United Nations General Headquarters, UNESCO New York Office, and the Global Partnership for Education and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies (CRI). It also highlighted the participation of partners from the Global Education Coalition. To capture the spirit of the International Day of Education, CRI and UNESCO have spearheaded a Learning Planet Festival to remember learning in all contexts and share innovations that fulfill the potential of every learner, no matter what their circumstances.
The right to education is enshrined in article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration calls for free and compulsory elementary education. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, goes further to stipulate that countries shall make higher education accessible to all.
When it adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015, the international community recognized that education is essential for the success of all 17 of its goals. Sustainable Development Goal 4, in particular, aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.