Minister of Education Sonia Parag has expressed Guyana’s support for reforms aimed at making UNESCO more effective and responsive. She was speaking during an Executive Board meeting in Paris.
According to a Ministry of Education release issued on Friday, Parag is attending the 225th Session of UNESCO’s Executive Board, which runs from October 5 to 20 at the organisation’s headquarters. Guyana is a newly elected member of the 58-member board.
Delivering Guyana’s statement during the plenary debates, Parag endorsed the Director-General’s UNESCO80 Roadmap and the concept of “UNESCO for the People”.
“Guyana strongly supports the vision articulated by the Director-General through the UNESCO80 Roadmap and the emerging concept of ‘UNESCO for the People’ – a vision that seeks to make UNESCO more effective, more responsive, more inclusive and more impactful in the lives of ordinary citizens,” she said.
Parag pointed to investments in school infrastructure, teacher training, digital learning and technical and vocational education, particularly in hinterland and riverine communities.
“Over the past several years, Guyana has undertaken one of the most ambitious expansions of educational access in its history. New schools have been built across hinterland and riverine communities,” she stated.
She said the initiatives were intended to ensure “that every child, regardless of geography or circumstance, can access quality education”.
The minister also called for ethical approaches to artificial intelligence, greater youth participation, protection of cultural heritage and Indigenous knowledge, and stronger international cooperation in responding to climate-related disasters and other crises.
“As artificial intelligence and rapid technological change reshape societies, we share the view that these technologies must be governed ethically, inclusively and in a human-centred manner,” she said.
On cultural preservation, Parag expressed support for UNESCO’s work to protect tangible and intangible heritage, strengthen cultural industries and promote intercultural dialogue, alongside greater recognition of Indigenous knowledge systems.
Referring to contributions by young people from 135 member states to the UNESCO80 consultations, she said they should be regarded as participants in decision-making.
“Young people are not merely beneficiaries of policy. They are partners and leaders in shaping the future,” she stated.
Parag said UNESCO must maintain its constitutional mandate while adapting to changing circumstances.
“As UNESCO approaches its eightieth anniversary, we have an opportunity not simply to celebrate our past, but to renew our commitment to the future,” she said.
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