Remarks at the National Commemoration of International Day of Education

Salutations:

• Your Excellency, General Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda;
• The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Honourable Janet Museveni;
• Development Partners, UN Colleagues;
• Representatives from the Civil Society and Private Sector;
• Distinguished Guests;
• Ladies and Gentlemen.

I bring you warm greetings from the United Nations family in Uganda. I am delighted to be part of the national commemoration of International Day of Education under the theme: Artificial Intelligence and Education, preserving human agency in a world of automation.

I would like to commend the Government of Uganda under the leadership of His Excellency, President Yoweri Museveni for leading the way on the African continent in reforming education to keep in tune with the times, beginning with Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1997, Universal Secondary Education (USE) in 2007 and the adoption of the new secondary school curriculum in 2021, which emphasizes learning of practical skills for life.

In his message for the International Day of Education 2025, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that:

“Education is a basic human right and an essential building block for every person to reach their full potential, and for societies and economies to grow and flourish. Today’s rapid technological breakthroughs — like Artificial Intelligence — hold enormous promise to support students of all ages across their learning journeys.”

AI offers major opportunities for education, provided that its deployment in schools is guided by clear ethical principles. To reach its full potential, this technology must complement the human and social dimensions of learning, rather than replace them. It has become a tool at the service of teachers and pupils, with the main objective being their autonomy and well-being.

AI can be used as tool to enhance learning in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to refine vocational skills required to thrive in the job market contribute to Uganda's economic growth.

 Initiatives by the United Nations system in Uganda in TVET have already shown promising results, and we are committed to continuing our support to ensure that Uganda's youth are empowered with the skills needed to succeed in an ever-evolving job market.

Our initiatives focus on improving education infrastructure, teacher training, and curriculum development, ultimately contributing to a more skilled and competitive workforce. We have equipped TVET institutions with production equipment and ICT infrastructure, enabling trainers to deliver high-quality programmes. 

Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen

As we look to the future, we recognize the importance of continued investment in science, technology and artificial intelligence in education. We call upon the government and all stakeholders to support following actions:

1. To promote inclusive and responsible use of such technologies as artificial intelligence to promote quality education services and job creation,
2. To boost youth employment by adopting an integrated approach that combines training, job matching, financial support and the participation of young people in design and implementation of programmes;
3. To support investment in the development of digital technologies and digital public infrastructure, with the aim of achieving universal connectivity, closing the digital divide, advancing e-commerce and deepening financial inclusion

On behalf of the United Nations System in Uganda I urge all stakeholders – government, private sector, civil society, and individuals – to join hands in supporting education initiatives that empower Uganda's youth and drive sustainable development. Together, we can build a brighter future for Uganda, where every individual has access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

I thank you all.