SHORT SUMMARY

Non-state actors’ role extends beyond provision of schooling to interventions at  various education levels and influence spheres. Alongside its review of progress  towards SDG 4, including emerging evidence on the COVID-19 pandemic’s  impact, the 2021/2 Global Education Monitoring Report urges governments to see all institutions, students and teachers as part of a single system. Standards,  information, incentives and accountability should help governments protect, respect and fulfil the right to education of all, without turning their eyes away from privilege or exploitation. Publicly funded education does not have to be publicly provided but  disparity in education processes, student outcomes and teacher working conditions must be addressed. Efficiency and innovation, rather than being commercial secrets, should be diffused and practised by all. To that end, transparency and integrity in the public education policy process need to be maintained to block vested interests.  

The report’s rallying call – Who chooses? Who loses? – invites policymakers to question relationships with non-state actors in terms of fundamental choices: between equity and freedom of choice; between encouraging initiative and setting standards; between groups of varying means and needs; between immediate commitments under SDG 4 and those to be progressively realized (e.g. post-secondary education); and between education and other social sectors.

Supporting the fifth Global Education Monitoring Report are two online tools: PEER, a policy dialogue resource describing non-state activity and regulations in the world’s education systems; and VIEW, a new website consolidating sources and providing new completion rate estimates over time.  

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in education, the sciences and culture. UNESCO believes that political and economic arrangements are not  enough to secure the lasting and sincere support of the peoples. Peace must be founded upon dialogue and mutual understanding, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of humanity. In this spirit, UNESCO develops educational tools and cultural and scientific programmes to strengthen bonds among nations, help countries adopt  international standards and foster the free flow of ideas and knowledge sharing.