The SDG 4 benchmarking process (Preparatory workshop, Advanced workshop) is a key strategy that supports the data and monitoring function in the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (GCM). In August 2021, UNESCO invited countries, including from the Arab region, to submit national benchmark values for six of the seven indicators selected for benchmarking for 2025 and 2030. Countries were requested to submit the targets, mainly from their national education sector plans, in templates provided by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) to facilitate the exercise.
In the Arab region, all 19 Member States participated extensively in the regional benchmark-setting exercise. Following the endorsement of Arab regional benchmarks. 16 Member States from the Arab region set national benchmarks for SDG4 indicators.
Building on these achievements, a second phase of the benchmarking process has been initiated in 2022 to submit benchmark values for the seventh indicator on equity, the gender gap in upper secondary completion by all countries, which was not included as part of the national benchmark in 2021.
In collaboration with UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), UNESCO Beirut is holding technical workshop to support Arab countries in the benchmarking process phase 2 by clarifying the understanding and calculation of indicators, including the new indicator on equity. In addition, the workshop aimed to support Member States to be technically prepared for the review of the national benchmarks submitted in 2021, especially in light of potential new information related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Resources
Hana Yoshimoto, Chief of Education/Senior Programme Specialist UNESCO Beirut
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