There’s no one way to transform education — and no better time to start than now.  

That’s the key message from “Transforming education towards SDG4”, UNESCO’s latest report on how 143 countries and member states are addressing critical learning needs. Amid a growing literacy crisis — with 40% of primary school-aged children failing to meet essential reading standards — and a teacher shortage to the tune of 44 million, improving the global educational landscape is more important than ever before.  

In the summer, the UN Secretary-General convened a special event to reflect on the progress made toward key goals since the 2022 Transforming Education Summit (TES) two years ago. Leaders from member countries called for stronger action and increased commitment, noting that only a sixth of participating regions are on track to meet their 2030 targets. 

Now that we’re over halfway to the deadline, let’s take a look at how some of our laureates are addressing some of the major challenges mentioned in UNESCO’s report: teacher training, girls’ and women’s schooling, and early childhood education. 

Investing in teacher education, investing in a brighter future 

One crucial area of much-needed transformation is teacher education. UNESCO found that improving teachers’ opportunities for growth and development, as well as their working conditions, was key to recruiting and retaining quality educators. Still, only six in 10 countries reported improvement in this area.  

2022 Yidan Prize laureate Dr Linda Darling-Hammond's work has been instrumental in improving teachers’ professional development. Having been a public school teacher herself, Linda’s research focuses on improving teacher preparation, recognizing that well-trained educators are essential for improved learning outcomes — especially for students with diverse needs. Her work is a testament to the fact that where teacher training goes, student well-being follows.  

Currently, Linda leads the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) to provide quality research and bridge the gaps between education policy and practice. In 2019, LPI partnered with the Bank Street Graduate School of Education to launch EdPrepLab, an initiative that connects emerging teacher-leaders with school districts, policymakers, and the resources they need to succeed.

Having started with 15 preparation programs across 10 US states, EdPrepLab’s goal is to develop and support new approaches to preparing teachers and help spread this knowledge to improve other programs across the country, and eventually globally too.

Closing the gender gap  

Better access to education for girls and women has been linked to decreased risks of poverty, both at individual and systemic levels. According to the UNESCO report, all 91 participating countries took at least some action toward improving women’s education, such as working to eradicate gender-based stereotypes in the classroom.  

Angeline Murimirwa of CAMFED, our 2020 laureate, has taken significant strides in this area. Under her leadership, CAMFED addresses the barriers faced by girls in accessing education, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa’s rural communities.  

In addition to tuition and exam fees, CAMFED takes care of everything a girl might need to thrive in school — from books, uniforms, school supplies, and bikes to disability aids and menstrual products.  

After the first CAMFED cohort graduated from secondary school, the program’s leaders quickly realized that graduates would need ongoing, comprehensive support to step into their new roles as community leaders and role models. The more recently established Learner Guide program allows CAMFED graduates to return to schools in their communities to nurture the next generation of supported students. The Guides are compensated with loans and business education so that they, too, can continue on their path to greater influence, confidence, and financial wellness. 

Partnering with more than 9,000 government schools, CAMFED has supported nearly 551,000 secondary school students and over 1.1 million primary school students. By implementing holistic support systems and helping young women to become leaders in their communities, CAMFED is helping to close the gender gap in education and create lasting change. 

A quality education starts early  

When it comes to sparking a lifetime love of learning, building a solid foundation is crucial. Our 2021 laureate Dr Rukmini Banerji knows this by heart. As CEO of Pratham Education Foundation since 2015, she’s led her team to close learning gaps in schools across India — to ensure that every child is in school and learning well. While only 55% of member countries committed to investing in early childhood education (ECE), an overwhelming majority (92%) took actions to improve it.  

Rukmini champions innovative approaches to early learning, focusing on foundational skills and community engagement, so as to reduce the need for catch-up interventions down the road. Her efforts have led to cost-effective, scalable solutions that improve education outcomes for young children, particularly in resource-constrained settings.  

One such project, Pratham Books, plays a vital role in addressing the educational needs of children across India. Although India has over 22 officially recognized languages, many learning resources are only available in dominant regional languages (i.e., those with more speakers). Pratham is actively developing content in a wider variety of local languages and dialects and bringing these resources to settings where children can easily access them. 

In fact, Pratham Books has published over 9,000 books in 31 languages. Their mission is to ensure that every child has access to quality reading materials in words they understand, fostering a love for reading and learning from an early age. By focusing on the diverse needs of those in their target region, Pratham is not only enhancing literacy but also preserving cultural heritage and promoting inclusivity in education. 

The path forward: accelerating progress 

UN member countries and states are coming back together for 2024’s Summit of the Future two weeks from now. They’ll take stock of the progress made towards achieving the SDGs — including SDG4 (quality education), and align on the actions that need to be taken. It’s a call for all key players — governments, civic organizations, and private sectors — to bring us closer to our goals. 

The efforts of Yidan Prize laureates like Linda, Angie, and Rukmini are examples of how targeted interventions can drive transformative change in education. By investing in teacher training, closing the gender gap in education, and prioritizing early childhood learning, these leaders are helping to create more equitable and effective education systems around the world.

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Photo credit: CAMFED