United News of Bangladesh

The British Council has been formally recognised as a member of two major global education platforms led by UNESCO, a move expected to strengthen international collaboration on teacher development and education reform. In a statement on Thursday, the British Council said it has joined the UNESCO Global Education Coalition and the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030, reinforcing its engagement in global efforts to promote inclusive and quality education. The Global Education Coalition was launched by UNESCO in 2020 to address disruptions to education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative has since evolved to support the goals of Sustainable Development Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and expand lifelong learning opportunities worldwide. The coalition brings together more than 200 partners, including governments, multilateral organisations, civil society groups and private-sector institutions, to advance reforms and innovation in education systems. Through its membership, the British Council will contribute expertise in teacher training, English language education and inclusive learning to support countries in building resilient and future-ready education systems. The organisation has also joined the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030, an independent global alliance working to tackle the growing shortage of qualified teachers and to strengthen professional support for educators. The task force focuses on raising awareness, expanding knowledge and supporting national efforts to improve teaching quality and address teacher-related challenges. With more than nine decades of experience in teacher education and professional development, the British Council said it will bring practical knowledge and global partnerships to the initiative, particularly in supporting teachers working in fragile, multilingual and resource-constrained contexts. Stephen Forbes, Country Director of the British Council in Bangladesh, said the country has made notable progress in expanding access to education, although improving quality and equity remains a key priority. He said the organisation’s participation in UNESCO’s global education platforms would help connect local expertise with international partnerships, enabling greater support for teachers and young learners through inclusive and future-oriented learning opportunities. Pearson partners with British Council to honour top students in Bangladesh The British Council works with ministries of education, schools, universities and civil society organisations across multiple regions to strengthen education systems through teacher development programmes, digital learning initiatives and support for English language educators. According to the statement, participation in the two initiatives will open new avenues for collaboration with governments and education stakeholders, supporting ministries, school leaders, teachers and young people through evidence-based programmes, peer learning networks and scalable innovations.