Exploring Finnish Digital Education
Illustration of two women of different backgrounds discussing

The Global learning crisis calls for effective
educational solutions

Globally, learning poverty is a harsh reality. According to UNICEF, even several years prior to the pandemic, more than 50% of 10 year old children could not read and understand a simple story.

Currently, these numbers are projected to reach 70%. In order to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 4, of ensuring "inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all," we need effective and scalable educational solutions.

The growing digital divide affects education and learning poverty as well.

We believe that valuable opportunities exist in developing digital learning and growing the capacity of teachers and learners to work within them.  Digital education can serve as an equaliser helping those furthest away from educational justice to bridge the learning gap.  Although this is true, if used without key values in mind, digitalisation can increase the disparities between learners on both sides of the learning gap. Nevertheless, we believe that valuable opportunities exist in developing digital education ecosystems and growing the capacity of teachers to work within them.

Resources on the Global Learning Crisis

 

UNICEF: "Let me learn"

Nearly two-thirds of 10-year-olds are estimated to be unable to read and understand a simple text. Without urgent action, this global learning crisis will become a generational catastrophe. Education systems are failing our children. 

The World Bank: The State of Global Learning Poverty -  2022 Update 
In the midst of the worst shock to education and learning in a century, global learning poverty is at crisis levels. This report stresses that COVID-19-related school closures and other disruptions have sharply increased learning poverty, a measure of children unable to read and understand a simple passage by age 10. 

United Nations: Sustainable Development Goal 4 - Quality Education 
Education for all has always been an integral part of the sustainable development agenda. “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”