International Youth Day: 12th August |

12 August is dedicated to the youth as International Youth Day, celebrated worldwide. According to the United Nations website, there are 1.8 billion young people aged between 18 to 24 years which is the largest population ever. But approx half of the children are still struggling to have basic education and maths skills. The global learning crisis problem hampers the country’s progress. The purpose of this day is to draw attention to the issues surrounding Youth.

12th August was first named as International Youth Day by United Nations in the year 1999. The day serves as an annual celebration globally, the role of the young women and men as essential partners in change, to raise awareness about the challenges that youth generally face.

12th August 2019 Theme: “Transforming Education”

The theme of international youth day this year is” Transforming education” Which highlights the efforts of equitable education inclusive of all youth, that includes the effort by youth also. Rooted in Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” This day will examine how youth-led the organizations and how their efforts are contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Equitable education plays a pivotal role in accelerating the progress of all 17 sustainable development goals, be it poverty eradication, inequality, work, and growth, etc. Education should result in effective learning outcomes with the content of school curricula and pedagogy being fit for purpose, for all the challenges and opportunities that social contexts bring.

Youth are the future of the country. Their engagement with the government is equally crucial in transforming and changing it leading it to the developed country. Schools and curricula should include lessons on peace and justice among many areas. Youth engagement is essential to the transformation of education into a means for inclusive youth development and sustainable development more broadly.