January 24 is International Education Day 2023

Every year, on the 24th of January, International Education Day is celebrated, under a specific motto, this year the chosen motto is “To invest in people, we prioritize education”.

The year 2023 marks the midpoint since UN members adopted the 2030 Agenda for People, Planet and Prosperity, a set of 17 interlinked goals that will be considered at the SDG Summit in September on the theme of investing in people.

Building on the global momentum generated by the UN Transformative Education Summit that took place in September 2022, this year's Day calls for maintaining strong political mobilization around education, charting the path to translate global commitments and initiatives into action. Education must be prioritized to accelerate progress towards all the Sustainable Development Goals, against a backdrop of global recession, rising inequalities and the climate crisis.

Thus, and within the scope of the Regional Youth Safeguard Program (SYP), of which the Ministry of Education is an Implementing Partner and member of the National and Provincial Multisectoral Mechanisms, UNFPA will coordinate in partnership with the National Directorate of Pre-School Education and Primary, an Educational Workshop on Menstrual Health and Hygiene for 65 girls and 47 boys, on the 24th of January at Escola Trabalho em Luta, Municipality of Luanda.

Teachers trained by the Ministry of Education in Menstrual Health and Comprehensive Sexuality Education under the SYP Program will facilitate the workshops, sharing relevant and age-appropriate information on this vitally important area for keeping girls in school and combating stigma and taboos associated with menstruation. Menstrual management materials will also be distributed to girls (menstruation panties and reusable sanitary napkins) and smart watches for learning and managing the menstrual cycle for girls and boys.