Intervention by the  Secretary of Educational Management, Ministry of Education of  Argentina, Oscar Ghillione,

 July 15

What are the main initiatives at the national level to accelerate the implementation of the education related targets in Argentina? 

Thank you Stefania. It is an honour for us, for the Argentine Government to share our views, our public policies and experiences for the implementation of SDG4 and related targets.

The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development coincided with the beginning of a new Government in Argentina, led by President Mauricio Macri. A Government that decided to put education at the center of the public debate in our country, raising awareness and calling for action to achieve inclusive quality education for all Argentinians and people from many different origins living in our country.

The Argentine government decided to strengthen the role of the state, as the principal actor responsible for achieving SDG4 at the national level. The imperative of inclusive quality education for all is for all relevant stakeholders, but particularly for the State at different governmental levels in collaboration with, teachers, students, families and NGOs.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology of Argentina is responsible for the design, implementation and evaluation of education policies in the country.

In order to accelerate the implementation of SDG4 we have taken action through many universal education reforms and affirmative actions to include those living in vulnerable contexts.

In early childhood education, we have been working to guarantee progressively access to education for children from 3 to 5 years old by building new classrooms, providing equipment, technology and promoting pedagogic innovation.

In primary level, where schooling rises almost to 100%, we worked to promote extended school time and better learning outcomes.  We developed a program to invest more resources in those schools with poorer results in the new evaluations launched throughout the country. The evaluation of education is helping us to raise awareness and to develop better policies including affirmative actions so that nobody is left behind. After 3 years we found better results in literacy and we are now innovating in the teaching and learning of mathematics.

In high school level, where dropout is one of the main challenges, we introduced a tech based national program to detect it and prevent it. To promote quality learning we developed “Secondary 2030” a federal strategy to promote relevant learning for students and to develop pathways to TVET, Higher Education and the world of work.

Last year during its presidency of the G20 Argentina put the focus on education, skills and lifelong learning as a main driver for inclusive growth, emphasizing also innovation and frontier technologies. This has been taken forward by Japan in 2019. How do we strengthen the linkages between education, skills and technologies in the most inclusive manner?

Many of these challenges, that we face as a country, are shared with many others in our global community. Our commitment as a country towards education does not end within our borders. As a member of the UN and UNESCO, Argentina is willing to share, to learn and to cooperate. We are not alone in this task.

Globally, Argentina decided to join the Steering Committee, to join and co-chair the Group of Friends here at NY and holding the Presidency of the G20 we decided to promote multilateral dialogue and to call for action. Argentina helped to place education at the center of the global debate. We believe as Mandela said that education is the most powerful tool to change the world. That SDG4 will help achieving the 2030 Agenda as a whole.

For the first time in history, the G20 had its own ministerial meeting on Education and a joint meeting with the ministers of Employment to address the Future of Education and Work. The G20 leaders, gathered during the Buenos Aires Summit, not only discussed about the economy, trade and employment but also they acknowledged the importance of education and expressed it in their Communique. During 2019, France led the education track of G7 and Japan planned educational events. We all have to keep track and deliver more!

Regionally, Argentina hosted the first ministerial meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean to address SDG 4 in 2017. The Buenos Aires Declaration defined the priorities of the region. We organized in 2018 the Regional conference on higher education. In 2019, we worked with UNESCO to promote an International Conference of States for the Adoption of the Regional Convention for the Recognition of Studies. Let me announce you that after a multi-year process, this weekend, this Saturday, the whole region adopted its new convention. We are creating a new Higher Education platform that will provide concrete answers for migrants.

We want to guarantee access to education and employment for all, irrespective of sex, age, race or ethnicity, persons with disabilities, migrants, indigenous peoples, children and youth, especially those in vulnerable situations, including persons who were forced to leave their countries.

Thanks.