Regional meetings

During these challenging times in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) stands with Member States as we face this global health crisis that threatens lives and containment measures that disrupt our ways of living.

The Technical Cooperation Group on the Indicators for SDG 4 – Education 2030 (TCG), convened by the UIS, recently discussed ways to ensure that the most relevant information will continue to be provided to decision-makers in 2020 and beyond, taking into consideration the pandemic-related challenges.

Following this, the UIS will host a series of regional virtual meetings with national and regional stakeholders on education statistics to discuss and learn on the main education data challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meetings will inform about UNESCO support to countries in the current context, to share the latest TCG developments with an emphasis on indicators that could better support the design of relevant policies, and to provide a platform for countries to share their current data production challenges, needs and new data required to face the effects of the pandemic more effectively.

Objectives

  • Inform participants of actions undertaken by UNESCO and the UIS to support Member States in the context of the pandemic.
  • Update participants on the latest TCG discussions on the most relevant education indicators that could serve in the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Learn from countries about the main data production challenges caused by the crisis, including interruption of current data collection processes, new data demands and new monitoring mechanisms.

Modality

  • The regional meetings, coordinated by the UIS, will be held in May 2020 via the Microsoft Teams platform.
  • The duration of each meeting will be approximately 2 hours.
  • Information on how to connect to the platform will be communicated to all registered participants prior to the meeting. The agenda for the meeting and relevant  documentation will be circulated in advance to give participants sufficient time to familiarize themselves with the information.
  • The meetings will be offered in English, French, Spanish and Arabic to facilitate more inclusive participation of Member States.

Participation

  • National SDG focal points, National Statistical Offices and Ministries of Education are invited to attend the meetings.
  • National Commissions for UNESCO and Permanent Delegations to UNESCO, as well as UNESCO offices in the regions, and relevant international and regional organizations are also welcome.
  • Attendees to the meeting should register for the meetings via this on-line form before for the meetings, or as soon as possible.

 

Schedule of all regional meetings

Dates (2020) Grouping of countries (sub-regions) Meeting language
12 May Sub-Saharan Africa 1 English
* 22 May * Latin America and the Caribbean 2 English
** This meeting was previously scheduled on May 13
14 May Asia (excluding Arab States) English
15 May Pacific English
19 May Latin America and the Caribbean 1 Spanish
20 May Sub-Saharan Africa 2 French
* 1 June * Arab States Arabic
** This meeting was previously scheduled on May 22

 

Agenda

N Item
1 Welcome and introductions. Objectives for the meeting (UIS)
2 UNESCO response to the pandemic and UIS measures to support Member States (UIS)

  • UNESCO Global Response
  • Data and indicator production in the context of COVID-19:
    • Priorities for data reporting on education. Plan of webinars to guide and support data provision on formal education.
    • Prioritization of SDG 4 indicators that could serve in the COVID-19 pandemic: Latest discussions in the TCG.
    • Understanding the disruption of national data collection systems and effects on regional and international monitoring mechanisms: inputs required to prepare a contingency plan.
3 Regional perspective: Challenges for education in the context of COVID-19. Regional response. (UNESCO regional offices)
4 Interventions by countries:

  • Main data production challenges in the context of COVID-19:
    • Interruption of data collection processes: how have statistical activities been affected?
    • Are there new data requirements on education for statistical departments? What are the challenges that require a response?
    • New monitoring mechanisms: what are the variables in the education sector that are being monitored?
  • Needs for support and guidance.
5 Closing remarks (UIS)

Note: All the presentations will be available immediately after the meetings and shared with the participants.

Documents