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KHALEEJ TIMES, Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 | Jumada Al-Uola 10, 1443


Unesco and Dubai Cares tackle learning inequalities in digital age


Dubai is backing a global mission to tackle learning inequalities and deliver access to education for all in the digital age.

Dubai Cares, a philanthropic group, has joined forces with Unesco to ensure teaching practices keep pace with advances in technology. They will also promote more investment in free digital education content.

The two organisations have developed the RewirEd Declaration on Connectivity for Education in an effort to ensure no learner is left behind during a growing shift to online teaching at a time when close to half of the world's population is still without internet connectivity at home.

The partnership was announced at the RewirEd education conference at Expo 2020 Dubai on Tuesday.

“Although most countries have now rapidly moved towards remote learning, we still have over 1.3 billion children aged three to 17 who still don't have access to connectivity at their homes,” said Tariq Al Gurg, chief executive of Dubai Cares.

“It is, in fact, estimated that just under half of all households in the world have no internet connection today.

“This represents a learning inequality of the greatest proportions that can have a lasting effect on the future.

“With education becoming increasingly digital, the negative consequences of the structure and inequities increase. Therefore, as the speed of digitalisation rises, the urgency to bridge the digital divide on connected or connected individuals does.”

He said creating the declaration took more than 14 months in a process steered by Unesco.

The declaration was created with the input of a 22-person group of expert advisers and a global consultation process, involving governments, civil society, young people, teachers, researchers and private sector companies.

Mr Al Gurg said the pandemic magnified the divide that exists between those who are connected and those who are not.

“Let us remember that one small virus caused one of the biggest crises of our time, resulting in a global lockdown for the 1.6 billion children and youth and over 16 million teachers out of academic institutions in more than 190 countries,” said Mr Al Gurg.

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