UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION EXECUTIVE BOARD Hundred and sixty-sixth Session Item 3.2.3 of the provisional agenda PROMOTING QUALITY EDUCATION: EDUCATION FOR PEACE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY; EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT; CURRICULA, EDUCATIONAL TOOLS AND TEACHER TRAINING

SUMMARY This document has been prepared by the Secretariat at the request of the Chairperson of the Executive Board for the thematic debate of the 166th session. It first presents a brief description of the relationships between quality and access in education. It outlines the need for broader vision of the quality of education than is currently used to be consistent with a human rights programming perspective. The next part takes four components of quality education: education for sustainable development; education for peace, human rights and democracy; revision of curricula and learning materials; and teacher education, and presents key issues related to each in relation to quality education. The conclusion argues that while the challenge is great, quality improvements are attainable on a daily basis if there is the will. This is consistent with the approach taken in the Medium