Ecuador UNESCO education partnership advances SDG 4 inclusive education and sustainable development

International cooperation in education has changed to newer approaches since countries have been concerned about how to solve issues of inclusion, resilience, and sustainable development. This trend is apparent in the Ecuador UNESCO education partnership, directed at making quality learning accessible for all children and youth in the country. According to the officials, the partnership is about SDG 4 inclusive education in Ecuador, teacher training, digital transformations, and education in emergencies.

Review of Activities 2024

On December 9, 2024, the Minister of Education of Ecuador, Alegría Crespo, and the UNESCO Representative in the country, Tatiana Villegas, met in Quito to evaluate the progress made in 2024. They agreed that UNESCO has supported several ventures of the Ministry of Education, such as curriculum strengthening, programmes for education in emergencies in Ecuador.

Officials added that UNESCO has also supported the creation of Safe and Protective Schools and Communities and has collaborated with IIEP for teacher training in Ecuador with UNESCO. This has been part of a wider effort in building capacity for Ecuadorian teachers and strengthening equity in education in Ecuador.

Achievements in Inclusive Education

The multisector VH highlighted the success of the resilience education programme by UNESCO in Ecuador during emergency events. The Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP), she explained, has reached the doors of more than 214,000 children and vulnerable families. This programme, which has been funded by Education Cannot Wait and the Government of Canada, is claimed to be one of the most illustrative cases showing how Ecuador and UNESCO join forces to increase inclusivity in education and solve the challenges of human mobility and natural disasters.

Future Commitments

Both parties will continue progressing the commitments made at the Transforming Education Summit. They stressed the need to focus on inclusive education, teacher training, the digital transformation of education in Ecuador, and education financing. This presented a wider plan for sustainable development within the educational system in Ecuador.

The meeting was also described as a reflection of a strong Ecuador UNESCO education partnership. Officials highlighted that Ecuador was in most high-level UNESCO events, such as the Global Education Monitoring Report presentation in Brazil and a regional event on violence prevention in Colombia- these activities apparently strengthened Ecuador's presence on the global education agenda.

Plans for 2025

Looking ahead, UNESCO and the Ministry of Education confirmed that such cooperation would be extended into 2025, expecting to implement tele-education adapted to the local context and supported by UNESCO in Ecuador, along with a pilot of the Future Teacher Kit project in Ecuador with UNESCO.

Support will also continue for education assessment and evaluation in Ecuador, including participation in international studies such as PISA and ERCE, which, according to officials, would be a source of valuable information on how Ecuador is preparing to participate in PISA and will evaluate internationally with the support of UNESCO and how the international assessments are useful to Ecuador for improving education quality.

The meeting in Quito was seen as a landmark cooperation between the Ministry of Education of Ecuador and UNESCO. It exemplified the potential that such education partnerships could generate, from resilience programmes for migrant education to teacher professional development and digital learning initiatives. Now that Ecuador enters the year 2024, the partnership will solidify much stronger policies, better training, and more inclusive opportunities. This is a shared commitment towards ensuring a just and sustainable education system that prepares learners to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Editor’s Note:

The recent meeting between Ecuador's Minister for Education with UNESCO was clear about how international cooperation is reconfiguring the future of learning. The Ecuador-UNESCO education collaboration goes beyond policies towards practical steps for a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable education. This initiative will be key since it directly relates to SDG 4, inclusive education in Ecuador, where all children and youth have access to quality learning opportunities. Seeing the achievements, UNESCO has supported education in emergencies in Ecuador, strengthened the curricula, and worked on Safe and Protective Schools. The UNESCO resilience education programme in Ecuador can benefit more than 214,000 children and families in multiple years through the Multi-Year Resilience Programme, thus showing how global partnerships can address challenges such as migration and natural disasters. The way forward in this partnership will centre on teacher training with UNESCO in Ecuador, digital transformation of education in Ecuador, and financing models promising equity. A tele-education model adapted to the Ecuador context, Future Teacher Kit in Ecuador with UNESCO, are all part of the 2025 plans, which also include participation in international assessments such as PISA and ERCE. These will provide reasonable education assessment and evaluation data for Ecuador and have a direct impact on the quality of the system.

According to Skoobuzz, this is a reflection of how Ecuador and UNESCO are coming together for a push in the area of inclusive education, building teacher capacity, and preparing students to face the challenges of the twenty-first century. Of course, that resilience in educational systems and sustainable development aren't lofty ideals, but are, rather, applied commitments that are manifested, for example, at the classroom level, in communities, and into futures.

FAQs

How is UNESCO supporting education reform in Ecuador?

UNESCO is helping Ecuador strengthen its education system by supporting curriculum reform, promoting inclusive education, and advancing digital transformation. The collaboration also focuses on equity, resilience, and sustainable development in schools.

2. What programmes does UNESCO run in Ecuador’s education sector?

UNESCO runs several programmes in Ecuador, including initiatives for education in emergencies, the Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP), Safe and Protective Schools, and teacher professional development through the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).

3. Why is Ecuador working with UNESCO on teacher training?

Ecuador is working with UNESCO to improve teacher skills and capacity. Through projects such as the Future Teacher Kit and continuous professional development, UNESCO provides training and resources that help educators adapt to modern challenges and deliver quality education.

4. How does UNESCO help Ecuador with education in crises?

UNESCO supports Ecuador in crisis contexts by implementing resilience programmes that benefit vulnerable children and families. The MYRP, funded by Education Cannot Wait and Canada, has reached over 214,000 learners, helping schools respond to challenges such as migration and natural disasters.

5. What role does UNESCO play in Ecuador’s international student assessment?

UNESCO assists Ecuador in participating in global assessments such as PISA and ERCE. This support helps the country evaluate education quality, measure socio‑emotional skills, and gather data to improve policies and teaching practices.