The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education: International Day of Education 2026
On 24 January, UNESCO leads the world in celebrating the International Day of Education 2026 under the theme “The power of youth in co-creating education.” This global celebration highlights how young people are shaping the future of learning and how everyone can help amplify their leadership.
The right to education is included in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration calls for free and compulsory elementary education. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, goes further to establish that countries shall make higher education accessible to all.
Today, there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16 per cent of the global population. By 2030, the target date for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that make up the 2030 Agenda, the number of youth is projected to have grown by 7 per cent, to nearly 1.3 billion.
UNESCO reminds us that education remains out of reach for too many. Around 250 million children and adolescents are still out of school, and 763 million adults cannot read or write. These numbers are more than statistics, they are lives constrained by inequality, poverty and missed opportunity.
In Bangladesh, progress over the last few decades has been real. Primary and secondary enrolment has climbed steadily, and both girls and boys now attend school in nearly equal numbers, a sign of hard-won gains in gender parity. Yet, challenges remain. Data shows that tertiary education enrolment for females is still strikingly low, with little more than one in five female students enrolled at universities and colleges compared with potential learners. This gap not only limits personal opportunities but also national progress.
Education is not just about literacy or degrees; it connects to every aspect of life. It is linked to health, employment, participation in civic life and technology. A child who learns well is more likely to get a job, make informed health choices, and take part in community life. Women with education are more likely to delay marriage, have healthier families, and contribute economically.
Education also contributes to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), teaching young people to understand their bodies, rights, and futures in a safer, more informed way.
This is where Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) comes in. CSE is an age-appropriate process of teaching about body changes, respect, consent, relationships, gender equality and reproductive health. It equips young people with knowledge and skills to make safe and respectful decisions about their lives. Research shows that CSE helps reduce risky behaviours, supports healthy relationships and improves well-being.
In Bangladesh, steps have been taken to include CSE-related topics in parts of the national curriculum and through community and youth programmes. Share-Net Bangladesh and partners have been mapping CSE efforts, revealing that while there is policy awareness and advocacy, actual classroom implementation is patchy and inconsistent. Teachers often lack training, and parents may feel uncomfortable discussing these topics. This gap means that many adolescents still learn about SRHR from peers or the internet, leading to misinformation.
The connection between education, SRHR and broader human rights shows just how central learning is to a healthy society. Whether through schools or community spaces, empowering youth with knowledge must remain a priority.
Share-Net Bangladesh joins the global community in celebrating education’s transformative power. We wish every learner, teacher and advocate well, and recommit to building an inclusive future where everyone can learn, grow and thrive.
Sources:
1. UNESCO
2. UNICEF
3. Dhaka Tribune