Press Release

‘Inclusion is key’ say experts at education seminar held in Beijing

31 October 2023

BEIJING, 31 October – To call for more focus on the importance of literacy and education for social inclusion and sustainable development, the Embassy of Mexico in China, the Embassy of Germany in China and the United Nations in China, co-organized a seminar at the UN Compound in Beijing on 30 October.

Quality education, as one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in itself and an enabler for achieving other SDGs, is well understood to be pivotal in shaping societies, fostering inclusion and driving sustainable development, with the seminar well attended by representatives of Member States, the Host Country, the UN in China, the World Bank, academia and research institutions.

As acknowledged during the seminar, significant progress has been achieved globally; however, millions of people still face barriers to quality education, with an estimated 773 million adults worldwide lacking basic literacy skills, limiting their ability to realize their potential and participate fully in their societies.

His Excellency Mr. Jesús Seade, Ambassador of Mexico to China, during his remarks, said, “But the fight against poverty cannot possibly be sent to the back seat. It is vital and urgent to address poverty comprehensively. And hand in hand with this need, as both its major cause and its effect, is the absolute need we have to bring and ensure quality, inclusive, and equitable education for all.”

The seminar sought to provide a platform that analyzes and discusses the experiences and lessons learned in literacy and education within China, Mexico and Germany, for participants to gain a broader understanding of strategies that have worked globally to promote inclusion and reduce inequalities.

Her Excellency Ms. Patricia Flor, Ambassador of Germany to China, during her remarks, said, “A gifted child that has to stay home to help or cannot go to school because of fees or other entry barriers is simply a human tragedy. An expression of our failure. A lost chance, especially for many girls. We therefore need universal access to schools and institutions of higher education, individual support where needed and social security systems that promote learning.”

The seminar also aimed to shine a light on the persistent inequalities of access to quality education, including those experienced by those in vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, and women and girls, with approximately 129 million girls of primary and secondary school age out of school, all challenging our ability to achieve quality education, the SDGs and leave no one behind.

Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, during his remarks, said, “We must reshape our education systems to equip young people with the skills necessary to navigate the evolving social and environmental landscape, the rapid advancements in technology and innovation, and the changing dynamics of the job market. Importantly, we must end any discrimination and barriers to access quality education.”

As raised during the seminar, China has achieved substantial progress in literacy and education, which has contributed to the development of its workforce and economic growth with many potential lessons for other developing countries; however, more work remains to address lingering disparities.

Dr. Zhang Ran, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Education, Peking University, during her presentation, said, “The Ministry of Education did take up efforts on the ‘Gaokao” examination, making it available with more accommodations to students with disabilities starting in 2015. The State Council also revised its regulation on special education that year. More recently, inclusive education settings of having students with disabilities placed in everyday learning environments with accommodations is becoming a regular model.”

Some of the specific experiences highlighted by speakers and panellists during the seminar include the creation of conducive and holistic learning environments, proper resourcing at schools to ensure students' safety and well-being, and the increasing importance of vocational education programs.

Caption: Ms. Amakobe Sande, UNICEF Representative to China

The seminar concluded with remarks from the representatives in China of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with both UNICEF and UNESCO supporting the organization of the seminar.