JANUARY
LAUNCH OF ASSESSMENT TOOLS
Schools2030 Global
We hit the ground running in January, when we launched samples of our contextualised and validated assessment tools, supporting schools and teachers to assess learning outcomes and the quality of the classroom environment. These tools were the culmination of three years of work from global, national and school-level coordination and represented a huge step forward for our programme!
CO-CREATE KICKS OFF IN MAINLAND TANZANIA
Tanzania
Supported by USAID and FCDO, CO-CREATE is working to scale Schools2030’s proven Three-Step Model to advance teacher and youth-led solutions for promoting climate action in schools and communities. Through this method, communities are exploring new ways to advance holistic quality learning outcomes and inclusive learning environments in and through climate action, such as the Environmental Clubs, presented at the Schools2030 Global Forum later in the year.
FEBURARY
GLOBAL COORDINATORS WORKSHOPS
Schools2030 Global
Teams from across our ten programme countries gathered in Zanzibar for the Global Coordinators Workshops. The event was an important opportunity to explore key questions around strengthening teacher agency, uptake of our assessment tools, improving the connection between schools and systems and making data more accessible for educators and stakeholders. The three-days brought together Schools2030 global and national teams, as well as our partners from around the world, creating an important exchange of ideas and fresh perspectives. We were even lucky enough to visit some participating schools!
MARCH
RELEASE OF ANNUAL REPORT
Schools2030 Global
We published our third Annual Report, cataloguing all our work at school, national and global level in 2023. The report provides a crucial space to share progress across our four global workstreams of assessment, innovation, showcasing, and research, evaluation and learning, as well as activities from each of our countries, including the latest teacher innovations.
SHIFTING MINDSETS WITH HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN
India, Tanzania, Afghanistan
In March, we released a video of Ajit Kumar, a teacher in India who says he is “in awe” of Human-Centred Design. But Ajit is not the only teacher whose attitudes have evolved this year thanks to their involvement with the programme. Read the stories of Mwajuma Mlezi and Aqa Hussain to find out how teachers’ mindsets are shifting – not just to their work, but of how they see themselves and their confidence to try new things.
APRIL
MEASURING WHAT MATTERS: ASSESSMENT WEEK
Schools2030 Global
In cooperation with our Global Assessment Partner, Oxford MeasureEd, we hosted a week-long campaign to explore and advance our holistic assessment work. Over the week we shared interviews with teachers from across our countries and information about our assessment strategy, as well as hosted two webinars looking back at all we have achieved and forward to what is in store for Phase Two Assessment Strategy.
MAY
REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SHOWCASING
All Schools2030 Countries
In May, Schools2030 Tajikistan hosted its second ‘Innovative Teacher’ Awards, which gave educators across the country an opportunity to come together with policymakers and showcase their ideas for improved teaching and learning in Tajikistan. But Tajikistan is far from the only country to hold showcasing events this year. All countries have hosted their own events at school, regional and national level, and have attended several external conferences such as the Blue Summit in Kenya and the Educational Stakeholders Conference in Pakistan. These events have been important opportunities to increase our audiences, dialogue about the future of education and scale our approach and innovations!
JUNE
THE GLOBAL FORUM: TEACHER LEADERSHIP FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Kyrgyz Republic
The Third Annual Schools2030 Global Forum gathered old and new delegates from across the sector, to address how teachers can support a climate-conscious education agenda. The event spotlighted this important topic and provided space for essential conversations between diverse stakeholders – all while raising the voices of teachers, celebrating Kyrgyz culture and commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education and Science. As a result of these important conversations, we were delighted to release our Eight Recommendations for Climate Education to inform the wider sector.
JULY
LEARNINGS FROM THE SCHOOLS2030 GLOBAL EVIDENCE SYMPOSIUM
Schools2030 Global
How can we begin to process the wealth and complexity of learning and evidence generated by the Schools2030 teams and partners over the past three years? This was the ambitious yet exciting task ahead of delegates at the inaugural Schools2030 Global Evidence Symposium, which was held in Bishkek after the Global Forum. In early July, we released the learnings from the discussions to strengthen our programme and the sector’s uptake of evidence. We were delighted to be joined by the new cohort of Schools2030 Global Research Partners who had recently begun projects exploring teacher agency in India, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Tanzania and Uganda.
AUGUST
DELIVERING RESPONSIVE AND INCLUSIVE INITIAL TEACHER EDUCATION THROUGH DESIGN THINKING
Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan
We were delighted to commence our new research grant, awarded through GPE-KIX. In partnership with the Aga Khan University, and the University of Cambridge, we began working to transform teacher training in Kenya, Tanzania, and Pakistan and scale the Schools2030 ‘Design Thinking for Teachers’ model. The initiative aims to support educators through context-driven, participatory professional development, integrating these approaches into training institutions across these countries.
SEPTEMBER
SANTANDER PORTUGAL FOUNDATION AND AKF PORTUGAL PARTNER TO TRAIN 1,500 TEACHERS IN OUR THREE-STEP MODEL
Portugal
In a ground-breaking step for scaling our approach to learning, Santander Portugal Foundation and the Aga Khan Foundation Portugal joined forces to train 1,500 teachers across the country in design thinking and our model of Assess, Innovate and Showcase. These teachers are from outside the existing Schools2030 network in Portugal and include a ‘training of trainers’, all which will be certified by the University of Porto. The signing of the grant marked a significant step forward for the programme to widen its impact outside of its immediate geographies in Portugal.
SCHOOLS2030 LEADS SYMPOSIUM AT BAICE CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH AND PRACTICE IN UGANDA
Schools2030 Global and Uganda
Alongside Schools2030 research partners from Sightsavers and Open Development and Education, we attended this year’s British Association for International & Comparative Education (BAICE) Conference to explore the intersection between holistic skills, learner-centred pedagogy and teacher professional development. It was also an exciting moment to share a new toolkit for teachers, recently developed by Open Development and Education to support students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Ugandan primary schools. You can access versions for visually-impaired users below the article.
OCTOBER
WORLD TEACHER’S DAY
All Schools2030 Countries
In October, we were delighted to celebrate World Teachers’ Day paying homage to teachers around the world – something we strive to do every day! This year, the theme was one that truly resonated, one of valuing teacher voices for a new social contract. Watch and share our short film in gratitude for your favourite teacher.
NOVEMBER
DREAM SCHOOL: A BLUEPRINT FOR STUDENT-LED EQUITY
Brazil
We spotlighted the remarkable journey of Dream School in Brazil, which has become a beacon of equitable, inclusive learning and student agency! With the support of Schools2030 Brazil, initiatives like the student-led Equity Committee have empowered students to tackle prejudice, promote empathy and build stronger relationships across their school community. These unique practices are not only shaping students’ lives for the better, but also inspiring systemic change across Brazil.
DRIVING QUALITY THROUGH EQUITY: RESEARCH WEBINAR
Schools2030 Global, Brazil, Pakistan, Uganda and Tanzania
Following the conclusion of research projects in four Schools2030 countries, we were joined online by teams who shared their findings about the connections between action research, holistic skills and equity. Speakers and attendees then had the opportunity to join breakout discussions to explore how these findings might be implemented across Schools2030 schools and the wider sector. Watch the session recording here.
DECEMBER
SAVE THE DATE: SCHOOLS2030 GLOBAL FORUM 2025
Kenya
After a truly fantastic year, we are so thrilled for what 2025 has in store. This month, we were delighted to have shared the first glimpse of the dates and theme for next year’s Schools2030 Global Forum in Kenya! From 3-5th June we will once again convene practitioners from across the global education spectrum, this time to discuss how teachers and schools might be the partners of choice in solving complex learning and education challenges. As with every year, we will be streaming as much of the discussions as possible live, so even if you cannot attend in person, please save the date!
