Minister Akbar Attends The Education World Forum

Developing education strategies based on the character, competencies and values of students is more challenging but it may ultimately lead to more opportunities

Using data to inform funding may be another example of applying what we should do with what we know.

Rather than see this as a way to increase value for money, the results- based financing agenda takes a broad look at funding approaches that reward the achievement of independently verified results.

UNESCO’s Institute of Statistics provided a synopsis of what it takes to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for Education, and the challenges associated with this.

These were amongst the vital focus of the 2019 Education World Forum that was held in London last week.

Fiji was honoured to have been part of this renowned annual international forum, which was attended by our Honourable Minister for Education, Minister Rosy Akbar, as well as members of the Fiji High Commission in London.

The Forum was coordinated for both collective and personal deliberation, for analysis from experts across the world and for a discussion of our individual and collective futures.

Among the subjects the sessions covered was Trends Shaping Education, which dealt with analysing National and Global trends to provide crucial insight for policy-makers and the communities they support.

The programme also examined how key technological, societal and economic forces can help move national education agendas and policy-making forward.

The forum also included discussions on results based approaches for financing education, which focused on mobilising additional resources as well as strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of Education spending.

Ministers also heard that a crucial determinant for the achievement of the SDGs in education is increasing public spending directed towards the sector.

This annual dialogue further highlighted the importance of consistent stakeholder involvement and engagement including teachers, families, students and communities.

While lifelong personal development is increasingly critical for success and happiness, Honourable Ministers were informed that opportunities for employment and enterprise are changing rapidly, as do the challenges of life outside work.

In view of this, Ministers were informed of strategies and policies for lifelong learning, their implementation and their potential impact on society.

The forum also had Ministerial briefs. One of the two sessions that Minister Akbar at- tended was that on “Extending Teaching and Learning Opportunities”, which focused on factors that make a great teacher, and how expanding the opportunity to teach can influence the educational system’s capacity to support learners and enhance learning for all.

Ministers also learnt of mechanisms/strategies that countries have adopted to improve education in their respective countries. This included increasing the minimum pay bracket for teachers, reviewing and changing the teaching and training curriculum, review of the recruitment procedure; as well as periodic review of the overall education system.

Among the prominent attendees of this year’s forum was Her Royal Highness, Princess Beatrice of York.