Global educational news 2018

Here are some significant global educational news stories from 2018:

  1. Global Education Rankings: The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) released its 2018 results, ranking countries based on student performance in reading, mathematics, and science. The top five countries were China, Estonia, Canada, New Zealand, and Macao (China).
  2. UNESCO's Education for All (EFA) Goals: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched a report highlighting progress towards the EFA goals, which aim to ensure that all children complete primary education by 2030. The report noted that while significant progress has been made, many countries still face challenges in achieving these goals.
  3. Global Teacher Shortage: The World Bank and UNESCO reported a global shortage of over 69 million teachers, with the greatest need in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The shortage is expected to worsen unless more teachers are recruited and trained.
  4. Online Learning: The global online learning market grew by 12% in 2018, with the United States, China, and India being the largest markets. Online learning platforms such as Coursera, edX, and Udemy reported significant growth in enrollments and revenue.
  5. Artificial Intelligence in Education: AI was increasingly used in education in 2018, with applications including personalized learning, adaptive assessments, and chatbots. However, concerns were raised about the potential impact of AI on teacher jobs and the need for ethical considerations in AI development.
  6. Global Education Summit: The Global Education Summit was held in London in July 2018, bringing together world leaders, educators, and policymakers to discuss the future of education. The summit focused on themes such as education technology, teacher training, and inclusive education.
  7. Refugee Education: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that over 3.5 million refugee children were out of school in 2018, with many more at risk of being denied an education. Efforts were made to increase access to education for refugee children, including the launch of the "Education Cannot Wait" fund.
  8. STEM Education: The global STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education market grew by 10% in 2018, driven by increasing demand for skilled workers in these fields. Governments and companies invested in STEM education initiatives, including coding programs and robotics competitions.
  9. Inclusive Education: The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Koumbou Boly Barry, released a report highlighting the importance of inclusive education for children with disabilities. The report called for increased efforts to ensure that all children have access to quality education, regardless of their abilities.
  10. Education Funding: The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) launched a new funding initiative in 2018, aiming to raise $2 billion to support education in developing countries. The initiative focused on improving access to education, particularly for girls and marginalized communities.

These are just a few of the significant global educational news stories from 2018. The year saw significant progress in areas such as online learning, STEM education, and inclusive education, but also highlighted ongoing challenges such as teacher shortages and refugee education.