The teachers are the “guards of our future”, explains the deputy chief of the UN

Their work, said the deputy secretary general of the UN Amina MohammedEast ” The beating heart of educationThe cornerstone of sustainable development and the guards of our future. »»

Speaking Thursday at the opening of the Unesco World Summit on Teachers In Santiago, Chile, Ms. Mohammed called for urgent global action to approach the in -depth crisis of teachers.

“Let us honor their influence on the politicians and the respect that teachers need, and future generations deserve,” she urged, establishing a five-point plan to support educators and strengthen education systems around the world.

A crisis with global consequences

The deputy chief of the UN warned that the world is faced with a “crisis of deepening of teachers” which threatens progress through the Sustainable development objectives.

“We fail our teachers,” she said, highlighting a global deficit of 44 million educators needed to achieve universal education objectives by 2030.

She described the crisis as “a slow combustion emergency” which undermines the learning results, expanding inequalities and weakening the social fabric of communities. “We have to respond to these truths,” she said.

No actor can fix this alone

UNESCO’s general manager Audrey Azoulay also addressed the summit, focusing on the complexity of the challenge. “No actor can fill the shortcomings we see, and that’s what brings us together here in Santiago,” she said.

Ms. Azoulay highlighted the multiple causes behind the crisis: weak and often delayed wages, an aging teachers’ workforce, an increase in school inscriptions without correspondence resources and persistent gender inequalities-especially in STEM fields. Tacking these problems, she said, requires “level heads and clear reflection”.

The numbers are austere

To achieve the objectives of global education by 2030, the world must recruit 44 million teachers – more than double the population of Chile. However, instead of progress, the gains are reversed.

“Too many young teachers leave in their early years,” said Mohammed, citing a low salary, heavy workloads and a lack of professional development. “In the end, we ask for teachers’ impossible: building the future without the tools, confidence and conditions they need.”

Funding for the future

The cost of recruiting the necessary teachers by 2030 is estimated at $ 120 billion per year. But the financing of education fails.

“More than 40% of the world’s population lives in countries where governments spend more on debt interests than for education or health,” she warned.

Education aid should drop by 25% between 2023 and 2027, with a fall of 12% already recorded last year.

Five urgent action zones

Ms. Mohammed presented a five -point plan to combat the global teachers’ crisis:

1. Erect the profession: Implement the recommendations of the high -level panel – fair salary, stable contracts, safe work places, manageable class sizes, investment in clear career updates and career paths.
2. Financial education: Make education a higher budget priority. Develop internal funding, continue to relieve debt and plan a global fund for teachers in an emergency.
3. Advance gender equality: Recognize and raise women’s leadership in a profession dominated by women but often lacking in female decision -makers.
4. Support digital transformation: Train teachers to direct inclusive digital learning, especially since AI reshapes the labor market. Equip classrooms and prioritize the human agency.
5. Protect teachers in crisis areas: From Gaza to Sudan and Ukraine, educators risk their lives. “We owe them more than admiration – we owe them unwavering protection, resources and support.”

From the summit to action

Ms. Mohammed urged managers to transform the summit results into concrete commitments before the World Social Summit in Doha in November.

She proposed:

• National teachers compact with objectives related to time on recruitment, retention and remuneration.
• A financing track which links the exchange of aid and debt to teacher investments.
• A digital pact led by teachers to establish standards for AI and ED-TECH, with funded training.

“Quality education is the foundation of everything we hope to achieve with the objectives of sustainable development,” she concluded. “Without teachers, none of this is possible.”