Blog by Marie Christine Gries, SI Representative to the United Nations
On 23 January 2026, the eve of UN World Education Day, UNESCO welcomed around 300 young students from various continents, members of youth organisations, or participants in national and international youth consultation bodies, to present and comment on the latest Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM–United Nations Youth Office).
The aim is to assess and revive youth participation in decisions on the Education 2030 roadmap (SDG4) since the Youth Declaration adopted at the 2022 Summit on Transforming Education. This GEM report, which highlights the various national mechanisms implemented to involve young people, advocates for better inclusion of youth voices so that the new education agenda is not designed for young people, but by them.
A new indicator has been developed to assess the effective participation of young people in decision-making, while youth councils, parliaments, and forums have been set up everywhere on a large scale. Forty per cent of the youth organisations consulted say they are dissatisfied with the results of their involvement in these formal structures, which do not really give them any decision-making powers.
In fact, young people who are disappointed by advocacy that has no impact prefer other forms of engagement, ranging from street demonstrations to digital platforms, where their influence is amplified by technology. Only 20 per cent of young people who have joined government-formed structures feel that their collaboration has been taken into account in policy-making or has led to the assignment of concrete responsibilities.
The recommendations in the report, written by an independent team working with young people, call for the creation of environments that facilitate communication between governments and youth, with investment and institutional and financial support, shared leadership responsibilities with adults, and mechanisms formalised by legislation for student participation in decisions relating to new education. Responsibilities should also be shared in the implementation of practical changes, not just in monitoring.
As a corollary, sufficient time in the curriculum should be allocated for students to develop their capacity to become active citizens, able to engage lucidly in decision-making processes and overcome obstacles to taking on roles in government.
Key messages on leadership in education
Leadership in education extends far beyond administration. School directors and education leaders are agents of change, shaping the direction, culture, and effectiveness of learning environments. Strong schools depend on strong leadership, grounded in fair recruitment practices, relationships built on trust, and clear pathways for professional growth.
At the same time, school leadership should not rely on individual heroism. When responsibilities are shared, schools function more effectively and sustainably. Yet many school directors are still expected to achieve significant outcomes with limited resources, placing strain on both individuals and institutions.
Administrative officials also play a critical role in how education systems operate, but their contributions are often overlooked within management structures. At the policy level, education ministers work within complex political contexts, and short terms of office can limit their ability to implement long-term reforms.
The report also highlights the positive impact of increasing the number of women in leadership positions, noting that more inclusive leadership can strengthen education systems overall. Finally, leadership in education is not exercised by one group alone. Trade unions, business leaders, academics, civil society organisations, and NGOs all influence the direction of education systems, demonstrating that leadership is shared across a wide range of actors.
Soroptimist International’s Focus on Education
This focus on youth participation and leadership in education reflects Soroptimist International’s long-standing commitment to education as a foundation for equality, empowerment, and active citizenship—see what else Soroptimists around the world are doing to mark International Day of Education 2026.
