Reimagine education
In a world facing a learning crisis, digital learning should be an essential service.
Shaping the Future of Learning Now: 3 Cs
Content and learning solutions
UNICEF focuses on innovative, cost-effective, evidence-based, inclusive and scalable digital learning solutions, using both high-tech and low-tech methods. Content should be in the languages children speak and inclusive for children with disabilities.
Capacity
Enhancing national capabilities for digital transformation is crucial. This includes developing digital skills among all key stakeholders to use digital learning tools effectively. It's vital to maintain human-centered approaches when leveraging technology.
Connecting every child
Enabling every child to benefit from digital learning requires affordable internet connectivity, electricity (with a focus on solar), devices, the bridging of social divides - not least the gender digital divide – and broader digital transformation.
Why Reimagine Education?
The world is facing a learning crisis. Millions of children are not developing the skills they need to break out of poverty. We can leverage technology in creative ways to provide new learning opportunities for children, wherever they are. But more than half of the world’s children and young people are on the wrong side of the digital divide, limiting access to the same opportunities as their connected peers.
The cost of inaction will be high. The World Bank estimates a loss of US$10 trillion in earnings over the lifetime of this generation of children and young people if urgent action is not taken to address the learning crisis.
We urgently need to reimagine education. Digital education in this day and age should be accessible to all, build and accredit basic skills – reading, writing and math – as well as digital and green skills, problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking.
One way in which UNICEF is reimagining education is by reimagining the traditional textbook. Through accessible digital textbooks, which include sign language, narration, mother tongue translation and interactivity, learners can interact with learning materials according to their diverse needs.
Are we listening to the Unstoppable?
Reimagining education across three life transitions
Age 5: Ready to start school
Through UNICEF’s Bebbo parent app, we provide essential guidance to parents of young children including playful parenting and early learning. UNICEF also works with partners to provide reading books to young children in local languages, and in digital formats which are accessible for children with disabilities, such as through sign language and narration.
Age 10: Acquired foundational skills
UNICEF works with governments in over 100 countries to provide opportunities for children to develop foundational skills, including digital skills. We apply blended learning approaches, which combines traditional face-to-face classroom teaching with digital platforms such as the Learning Passport and Akelius for refugee children.
To thrive in a global digital world, digital literacy is increasingly recognized as a central element of the skills a child requires for school, work and life. UNICEF works closely with Ministries of Education on introducing children to digital technologies, including online safety.
Age 18: Ready for life and work
Through Gateways to Public Digital Learning we envision digital learning as a public good accessible to all, including children and youth in emergencies. Whether in school or out of school, UNICEF works with governments and partners to provide children and youth with lifelong learning opportunities. This includes development of 21st century skills and preparation for the future of work, as well as empowering youth to become global citizens.
Join us in Reimagining Education
Fostering partnerships across public and private sectors – and with young people themselves – is the only way to do this. That is why the Reimagine Education initiative is asking partners to come together in a global movement.
As this revolution advances around the world, UNICEF is calling for:
- The most vulnerable children and young people to be prioritised in getting connected and gaining access to quality digital learning;
- Digital learning to be relevant to each individual child and young person, including their level of education and language, and is accessible for children with disabilities;
- Education funding to be protected and for the needs of the most vulnerable children and young people to be prioritised; and
- Decision-makers to maximise innovation, impetus and investment through cross-community collaborations involving governments, businesses, community groups, industry pioneers and more.
Contact us at digitallearning@unicef.org .
Resources
Read a review of evidence documenting the effectiveness of digital learning solutions.
Check out our Summary Case for Investment in digital learning.
Download the Reimagine Education brochure.
Watch former UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on the vision to revolutionize education through connectivity and quality digital learning for every child.