Abu dhabi: UNESCO works closely with countries to help them develop strategies, plans, and regulations to assure the safe and beneficial use of digital technology in education, including artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The International Day of Digital Learning, designated by UNESCO Member States in 2023, serves as an opportunity to celebrate and share how digital technologies are being used to improve education, while addressing the risks and challenges these technologies bring.
According to Emirates News Agency, the 2026 International Day for Digital Learning focuses on building digital futures for public education. In line with this theme, UNESCO, alongside UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), launched the Charter for Public Digital Learning Platforms. This Charter provides normative guidance for public authorities on the design, governance, and refinement of public digital learning platforms, aiming to uphold the right to education and promote inclusion, equity, and resilience in education systems.
The Charter arrives at a critical time for digital learning, as millions of children worldwide are not achieving minimum learning levels. Without coordinated and sustained support, these children risk being excluded from digital systems, which are essential for modern education and lifelong learning opportunities.
Despite the challenges posed by the digital divide and a global learning crisis, education funding is on the decline. UNICEF reports a projected US$3.2 billion decline in education funding by 2026, risking the futures of millions of children. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and EdTech tools, often locked behind paywalls, further complicates the situation by reshaping educational practices and potentially deepening inequality. Urgent, principled action is needed to prevent the digital transformation of education from fragmenting public systems and to ensure it strengthens resilience and inclusion.