New York, April 12, 2023 (PPI-OT):Mr. Chair, I would like to express our sincere felicitations to you and members of the Bureau on your election. 2. As the Secretary-General’s report has highlighted today, the world is confronted with an education emergency – 263 million children are out of school, arresting human development and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

3. Along with the triple economic crisis of finance, fuel and food, the developing countries are also facing a triple crisis in education – of equity, quality and relevance. Commitments made at the Transforming Education Summit in September 2022 are yet to be realized. Three decades after the Cairo Conference, universal access to primary education, and closing the gender gap in primary and secondary education remain a distant dream for millions in the global south.

4. With 220 million people, Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world. We must equip this large and young population with the education and skills to thrive in a rapidly transforming world, where knowledge is the key to individual, societal and national progress. Therefore, demographic planning and education have remained priorities for Pakistan.

Successive governments have focused resources on raising awareness, providing healthcare, building capacity and forging alliances for effective implementation of population management strategies. In this regard, a Maternal and Child Health Program is being implemented in all provinces. We reaffirm our commitment to implementing the ICPD Programme of Action.

The Government also continues to make concerted efforts to provide inclusive education to all, despite resource constraints, on-going recovery from Covid-19 Pandemic and the devastating impact of the worst floods in Pakistan’s history, exacerbated by climate change.

Mr. Chair, 5. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved, at the national and international level, without transforming education to cater to the needs of the young and growing population, especially in the developing countries: 6. One, factors leading to the denial of the right to education of children and youth – conflict, poverty, mal-nutrition, access to internet and gender digital divide – should be addressed on an urgent basis.

7. Two, the world’s nations, singly and collectively, should ensure universal access to quality education at all levels. In particular, access should be provided to those with disabilities, migrants and other vulnerable groups to enable them to participate fully in societies and contribute to sustainable development.

For this, innovative learning methodologies and tools should be utilized, including by developing digital solutions that ensure the full and equal participation of all learners; harness the potential of technologies for inclusion; and avoid over-reliance on single technology solutions, and thereby, close gaps in digital access, knowledge, skills, and leadership.

8. Three, investments in education to create awareness of environment and sustainable development and the demographic trends that impinge on our scarce resources, and contribute to climate change and environmental degradation. This should lead to strategies for appropriate population and family planning.

9. Four, lifelong learning should be made available across the age range, especially in developing countries, including working-age adults and older persons. We must enhance their employment prospects by teaching transferable skills. Efforts to promote active and healthy ageing, and implement lifelong learning policies in response to changing demographic trends and labour market needs, deserve active international support.

10. Five, population data from national population censuses, population registers and other sources, as well as geographically disaggregated population projections, are fundamental inputs to policy planning in education. The international community should provide technical and financial assistance for population data collection to developing countries.

11. Six, sustained and inclusive global education cannot be achieved without the full and effective realization of the Right to Development.

More than ever before, the international community must abide by the principles of global solidarity, cooperation and shared responsibility. We look forward to the early adoption of a binding Convention on the Right to Development.

12. Seven, millions of children and youth living in situations of conflict and foreign occupation must not be forgotten and deprived of their fundamental right to education and development. The international community, the multilateral system, humanitarian organizations, and the donors should provide resources to provide education to people living in protracted situations of conflict and foreign occupation and exert political capital, moral pressure, and legal force to resolve conflict and end foreign occupation.

13. Last, it is of utmost importance that the financial investments needed for achieving SDG 4 are mobilized, equitably allocated and best utilized. Financing is critical in bridging the digital and resource divide. It is the key to overcoming the education emergency.

14. The most important investment in creating a peaceful and inclusive world’s education – where every child, without discrimination, has equitable access to basic and quality education. This must be a key priority for all our nations, acting individually and collectively. I thank you.

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