Latin American leaders reaffirm their collaboration for transforming education and sustainable funding

On 2 November 2024, UNESCO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean held the Extraordinary Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee for SDG 4 in Fortaleza, Brazil, as part of the Global Education Meeting (GEM). Ministers and representatives from international organisations gathered to strengthen strategies for educational reactivation, recovery, and transformation in the region, reaffirming their commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which seeks to provide inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all throughout life.

In the opening remarks, Esther Kuisch Laroche, Director of UNESCO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighted the Committee's role as a vital platform for technical and political dialogue that drives regional collaboration. "The Regional Steering Committee promotes inclusion, solidarity, and respect among Ministries of Education, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society representatives. Multilateral development banks, which have historically supported educational systems in the region, also participate in this collaborative dynamic," she noted.

During the session, the progress of the Regional Reference Framework on public policies for the reactivation, recovery and transformation of education was presented. Discussions also focused on the essential elements needed to develop a sustainable financing proposal to ensure sufficient resources that are equitably distributed and efficiently managed, enabling the fulfillment of SDG 4 targets. These documents were prepared with the support of UNESCO, UNICEF, ECLAC, IIPE, CLADE, the World Bank, IDB, and CAF.

The extraordinary meeting was attended by ministers and high-level officials from Brazil and Chile, who lead the coordination mechanism, as well as representatives from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Suriname. Regional organizations that are members of the committee, including CLADE, Education International (EI), OEI, and UNICEF, were also present. Observers such as SUMMA, FLACSO, and Fundación Reimagina attended alongside researchers and ministerial teams from across the region.

A key aspect of this meeting was the formal inclusion of representatives of youth organizations on the committee. Christina Williams, from UNESCO's Youth and Student Network for SDG4, shared young people's perspectives on the future of education in the region, stressing the importance of creating spaces for youth participation at the national level to engage in dialogue and propose policies that reflect the aspirations and needs of new generations.

Stefania Giannini, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Education, underscored the value of collective commitment: "We need consistent, broad participation-not only from young people but from all stakeholders seated around this table. Listening to ministers and partners today, I can already see the Fortaleza Declaration in action. Education is the responsibility of society as a whole, not just the Ministries of Education. Political and financial sustainability must go hand in hand to achieve our goals," Giannini said.

Alejandra Arratia Martínez, Chile's Undersecretary of Education, emphasized the importance of dignifying the teaching profession. "Teachers are not merely implementers of public policies; they are developers of educational policy within their institutions. Strengthening their professional status and amplifying their voices is essential to advancing transformative education," she affirmed.

Maurício Holanda Maia, Deputy Minister for the Secretariat of Intersectoral Coordination and Education Systems in Brazil, highlighted the value of regional cooperation: "This meeting broadens our horizons and strengthens our hopes. I believe we can build a solid future through bilateral dialogues and forums like this, where our ideas turn into collective action," he commented.

The session concluded with a visit to the Mais Infância Cristo Redentor Social Complex, a symbol of Brazil's commitment to social and educational development.

This event not only facilitated the exchange of experiences but also marks a fundamental step on the path to the Second World Summit on Social Development in 2025, where countries in the region will continue building a common educational agenda that positions education as a pillar of social justice and equity, fostering a future with fewer inequalities and more opportunities for all.

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