Education is a potent force for peace, prosperity, and progress in every region of the globe. However, **millions of children and adolescents still lack access to quality education**, despite the increasing global recognition of its immense value. In 2012, the **United Nations** initiated the **Education First Initiative** as a bold endeavor to elevate **education to a global priority** in response to the global learning crisis.
**What is the Education First Initiative?**
In September 2012, the **Education First Initiative** was initiated by the former UN Secretary-General **Ban Ki-moon** with the objective of accelerating the progress toward universal education by mobilizing both political commitment and financial resources.
The initiative concentrates on the following:
1. **Ensuring that every child attends school**.
2. **Enhancing the caliber of education**.
3. **Encouraging global citizenship**.
In recognition of the fact that education is the cornerstone of sustainable development, the initiative collaborates with governments, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations to establish more inclusive and effective education system.
**What is the rationale for prioritizing education?
**61 million children** were not enrolled in primary school at the time of its inception, and **more than 250 million children** were unable to read or write after four years of formal education. The initiative was born in direct response to these alarming statistics, acknowledging that the education sector would cease to make progress toward the **Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)** and subsequently the **Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)** unless decisive action was taken.
The Education First Initiative was not just designed to address **access**; it was also intended to improve **learning outcomes and values-based education** that fosters **peace, tolerance, and sustainability**.
**Principal Objectives of the Initiative**
1. **Access** – Guarantee that all children and adolescents, with a particular emphasis on the most marginalized: females, children with disabilities, and those residing in conflict zones, are enrolled in school and successfully complete their education.
2. **Quality** – Foster learning environments that are inclusive, safe, and staffed by well-trained instructors who utilize effective curricula.
3. **Global Citizenship** – Provide learners with the necessary education to develop into responsible, compassionate, and informed global citizens who are capable of confronting global challenges such as inequality, conflict, and climate change.
**Collaboration and Partnerships**
The Education First Initiative has assembled a formidable coalition of collaborators, including:
** UNESCO ** UNICEF ** The World Bank ** Global Partnership for Education (GPE) ** Private-sector corporations and philanthropists
The initiative enhanced global efforts, improved education funding, and promoted innovative policies worldwide by uniting these forces.
**Legacy and Achievements**
The initiative’s impact is still being felt across numerous UN and global education platforms, despite the fact that it was time-bound. Several noteworthy accomplishments are as follows:
* Increasing awareness of the global education crisis’s urgency.
* Contributing to the advancement of **Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4)**: “Promote lifelong learning opportunities for all and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.”
* Encouraging the integration of **education for global citizenship and sustainable development** into national curricula. * Catalyzing funding commitments and programs in countries with the greatest need.
**The Reason It Continues to Be Relevant Today**
The Education First Initiative’s objectives continue to be pertinent. Education must be the foundation of all solutions as the world recovers from the **COVID-19 pandemic**, confronts deepening inequality, and encounters increasing global instability.
Learning is not merely a means of preparing for life; it is life itself. We invest in education to promote improved health, stronger economies, empowered communities, and a more peaceful world.
**Education in the SDG Era: A Forward-Looking Perspective**
The Education First Initiative’s momentum facilitated the establishment of **SDG 4**, which currently serves as the global education policy framework through 2030. Lifelong learning, equity, and education for sustainable development continue to be the foundation of global development initiatives.
**Conclusion: A Global Call to Action**
The **Education First Initiative** was a call to action for leaders to view education as a **core driver of change**, rather than as a form of charity. Its legacy serves as a reminder that genuine progress is the result of the straightforward yet impactful pledge: **every child, in school and learning**.
Visit [www.un.org](https://www.un.org) or [UNESCO’s education programs](https://www.unesco.org/en/education) to learn more about the ongoing UN efforts in education.