1.1 / Despite advancements in some segments across the world, education policies have unintentionally exacerbated inequality, establishing new forms of elitism and a mindset focused on individualism.
1.2 / The present focus on human capital (literacy and numeracy skills) is not optimal for human flourishing. Education policy and practice focusing on academic performance rather than balancing it with social and emotional competencies, has led to a decline in human and societal flourishing.
1.3 / Meritocracy has backfired, creating a new form of educational, social, and economic exclusion in the guise of credentialism and exacerbating inequitable flourishing outcomes.
1.4 / The present learner assessments focusing on standardized, time-bound, 'one-size-fits-all' summative learner examinations are not optimal for learning and flourishing.
1.5 / Educational expenditure requires closer scrutiny of the 'what', 'how', 'when', 'where' and 'for whom' these investments are made to maximize returns on education for human flourishing and ensure equitable outcomes for all.
1.6 / Inclusive education policies have been established but have not resulted in equal opportunities for marginalized groups based on gender, ethnicity/ race, sexual orientation, disability and neurodiversity.
2.1 / The private sector through quasi-markets, shadow education and a global education industry is increasingly influencing education with an emphasis on economic efficiency at the cost of learning and flourishing.
2.2 / Dominant-group political, economic, social and cultural factors have played a key role in excluding marginalized minorities in education and learning.
2.3 / Local social and cultural factors have played an instrumental role in producing imbalances in gender parity in education even if international political commitments to gender parity have strengthened over the past 30 years.
2.4 / Education has become a major victim of violent conflicts because it represents the state’s economic, social, and political visions. However, incorporating new insights about the impact of stress and trauma on the developing and learning child can make education a peacebuilder by building social and emotional competencies, executive function and agency among learners.
2.5 / Education Technology (EdTech) or Digital Pedagogy can help all students, in particular students with special needs to concentrate on tasks and provide opportunities in simulations, basic drills/practice, and communication, while also increasing higher-order thinking and aiding pedagogical practices.
2.6 / The UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, Target 7 remains at the periphery of most education systems even as Climate Change and other major environmental problems have spurred an increase in the adoption of education for sustainable development (ESD), global citizenship education (GCED), and environmental education. These subjects are yet treated as ‘minor’ subjects in school curricula, with little or no social and emotional dimensions, leading to limited efficacy of these interventions.
3.1 / Many national curricula emphasize knowledge acquisition and not social and emotional learning. The former is focused on literacy and numeracy using standardized curricula as opposed to focusing on localized curricula addressing existential questions faced in students’ day-to-day life.
3.2 / Increased understanding and respect for diversity is slowly gaining momentum in curricula and school systems but can be further strengthened by mainstreaming it across curricula, pedagogy, learner assessments and teacher training.
3.3 / EdTech is pervasive across all education settings and shows much promise in providing the possibility of personalized learning if it is designed and implemented in an ethical, inclusive and equitable manner. This promise takes on special importance for individuals with specific disabilities or challenges that impact their learning in traditional school settings, to communities that are geographically remote, and to populations in economic need.
3.4 / Where we learn influences what and how we learn, in some cases beyond the intended curriculum, learner assessment or aims of education. Flexible and/or open classrooms which enable group learning and agency improve student cooperation, cognitive learning, student engagement and well-being.
4.1 / Education as a social relational activity offers a pathway to develop human flourishing. An education for human flourishing must be malleable and adaptable to accommodate the needs of the individual while recognizing societal and ecological conditions.
4.2 / Context heavily influences (and is influenced by) education and learning and can either derail or nurture education for human flourishing. Therefore, political, social, cultural, institutional and technological factors need to be understood when designing an education to minimize unintended negative outcomes and achieve the goal of human flourishing.
4.3 / Cognitive, social-emotional and metacognitive functions need to be mainstreamed in curricula and pedagogy and should be grounded in complex local and global issues related to politics, economics, cultural diversity and environmental sustainability. Fostering a symbiotic relationship between cognition, metacognition and social-emotional learning in education systems is key to activating and achieving the seven pillars of learning- learning to know, learning to think, learning to do, learning to be, learning to become, learning to live together and learning to live with nature.
4.4 / A broader cultural perspective that allows learning experiences from learners across different parts of the world should be adopted to inform education and learning while social influences reinforcing gender, racial, religious and other stereotypes need to be minimized.
4.5 / A formative and dynamic learner assessment encouraging continuous feedback to acknowledge and increase learner potentiality should be designed and implemented.
4.6 / Design and implement inclusive education policies by investing in early identification (or screening) of at-risk learners, teacher training, and EdTech.
4.7 / Design and implement EdTech tools and processes informed by ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that acknowledges and caters to individual differences, provides personalized learning experiences, and minimizes negative impacts of datafication and digitalization leading to more equitable and inclusive education for all.
4.8 / Inculcate the key competencies of information literacy to address information overload and misinformation.
4.9 / Invest in teacher training for an education for flourishing. Investments and reforms in teacher education can optimally guide learning for all students. In addition, they can increase teacher flourishing, which is important for learner flourishing.
4.10 / Education for flourishing needs to be informed by insights from the learning sciences on optimal conditions for learning, effective learning strategies, and the negative effects of trauma, poverty, and stress.
4.11 / Social influences reinforcing gender stereotypes need to be minimized to promote gender equality.
4.12 / Different ages come with different opportunities and school curricula should be aligned accordingly. Both childhood and adolescence are heightened periods of brain plasticity, enabling efficient learning. Adolescence is a window of opportunity for learning, engagement, and shaping prosocial behavior, and continued investment must be made throughout all stages of learning.
4.13 / Develop dynamic and adaptable learning spaces to allow experiential, outdoor, community and place-based learning conducive to learners’ flourishing and promote equity and inclusiveness.
5.1 / Data, evidence and statistical significance are key variables to be considered in educational policy-making. Effect sizes, internal validity and uncertainty in findings are key concepts to be included in any policy design.
5.2 / Research must include diversity when analysing student learning as drawing conclusions from homogenous groups can be misleading and lead to suboptimal learning outcomes.
5.3 / EdTech research must focus on ethics, quality, inclusivity and equity and should include learners from varying social-economic-cultural backgrounds in research studies.
5.4 / Transdisciplinary and practice-research collaboration must be a necessary condition for education-related research to produce transdisciplinary outcomes.
