The Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), Dr Dira Khama says the ministry is preparing for the upcoming Transforming Education Summit (TES) to be held in New York in September 2022.

He said this at the press conference held at Education Headquarters in Maseru on Monday.

When addressing the media, Dr Khama mentioned that there is a global learning crisis that is depriving hundreds of millions of children, young people and adults of their right to quality education, leaving many of the education-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) well off track.

He further noted that the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of effective measures for learning recovery risks are turning this crisis into a generational catastrophe, especially for marginalized and vulnerable groups.

He stressed that the learning crisis is part of a broader challenge relating to the ability of conventional education systems to deliver the knowledge, skills and outlooks needed for children, young people and adults to excel in today’s world and contribute to sustainable, healthy and peaceful futures, saying UNESCO’s landmark report on the futures of education noted that far too often, formal learning does not meet the needs and aspirations of children and youth and their communities.

Dr Khama noted that the summit is therefore aimed at mobilizing action, ambition, commitment, solidarity and solutions with a view to reimagining, accelerating and transforming education between now and 2030 and elevating education to the top of the global political agenda and maximizing public awareness and engagement.

He noted that the pre-summit will be organized in Paris at the end of June 2022 to harness the evolving discussions and generate greater momentum in the lead up to September.

He added that in preparations for TES in September and pre-summit in June, countries are required to undertake national consultations with relevant stakeholders.

He, therefore, said the Ministry of Education and Training will embark on consultations in a few weeks’ time to consult the Ministry of Education and Training Senior Management, Curriculum Developers, District Education Managers, Planners, Statisticians and other related ministries such as Ministries of Finance, Health, Social Development, Development Planning and of Labour and Employment and agencies like the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA), Teaching Council, Teaching Service Commission, Local Education Group and Principals Association Teacher Formations.

TES is a summit on Education to be convened by the United Nations Secretary-General, His Excellency Antonio Guterres during the General Assembly.