Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a pathway for education and learning that removes obstacles to learning, creating an optimal environment for success in the classroom. UDL promotes equal opportunity for all students to succeed. The goal of UDL is to overcome barriers to learning by employing diverse teaching methods and providing flexibility in the classroom, capitalizing on each student’s strengths and identifying individual learning needs.
In many contexts, community-driven organizations offer girls in difficult circumstances a source of hope and chance at education by paying school fees, providing spaces for daycare, and taking on cases of gender-based violence by seeking legal justice on girls’ behalf. Community-driven organizations can also protect girls from female genital mutilation and early marriage and can support girls to develop and restore their power and agency through continuous training sessions. And that’s just the beginning.
According to UNESCO, of the 743 million girls around the world out of school and universities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 111 million live in the world’s least developed countries, where already high gender disparities in education exist. There are now fears that progress made with regards to gender equality could be reversed as the pandemic threatens to further entrench existing gender gaps in education. Marginalised girls in poor countries are at a higher risk of dropping out of school compared to boys. Evidence from past crises suggests that there will be a disproportionate impact on education of adolescent girls. In order to mitigate this impact, it is vital that education policies designed to deal with the current crisis are gender responsive.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a global issue and has highlighed the ongoing racial discrimination against communities of color, specificically the Black community in the United States. Learn how racial discrimination in education negatively impacts students of color and what you can do to help. #BlackLivesMatter
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released the Improving Early Childhood Development: WHO Guideline, which provides evidence-informed recommendations on improving Early Childhood Development (ECD). The purpose of the guideline is to identify specific ECD interventions and practical approaches that will improve developmental outcomes for children. The guideline focuses on the needs of both caregivers and young children, and identifies that the foundation for lifelong health, productivity, and well being is built in the early years starting from pregnancy.
“Leave No Child Behind” reveals that we must do more to protect millions of children with disabilities around the world. Read Nourou's story and sign the petition.
Global Partnership for Education and the Center for Universal Education at Brookings held an event at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC to discuss the progress made towards achieving gender transformation in education systems.
“Across all roles and settings, advancing equity requires a dedication to self-reflection, a willingness to respectfully listen to others’ perspectives without interruption or defensiveness, and a commitment to continuous learning to improve practice.” — Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education, NAEYC
The Ensuring All Children THRIVE: Early Childhood Development in Conflict and Crisis Settings took place on November 19, 2019 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.