2024 has been a year full of challenges and exceptional progress and impact for GPE. Over the past 12 months, we had the privilege of collaborating with hundreds of partners to publish a total of 179 blogs and blogs series on various topics.

Together, our blogs gathered more than 500,000 views. The top 15 posts below, show that the topics of most interest for our readers in 2024 were:

• Climate change
• Foundational learning
• Technology in education
• Learning assessments
• Quality teaching
• Sector planning.

We thank all our contributors for sharing their research, insights, innovations and experiences. We wish all of you a great start of the new year!

1. Making education in Africa fit for the 21st century
By Julie Mwabe and Hiba Elamin Omer, GPE Secretariat

Transforming African education systems to equip the current and future generations with 21^st century skills is critical. The African Union’s Year of Education 2024 is therefore a historic moment to put education at the forefront of the policy agenda.

2. Too hot to learn: The impact of climate change on education
By Robert Jenkins, UNICEF, and Sarah Beardmore, GPE Secretariat

Rising temperatures and heat waves are not only threatening our environment but also disrupting learning for millions of children worldwide. Investing in climate-resilient schools and education systems is essential to ensure that every child realizes their right to learn in a safe and conducive learning environment.

3. The rise of technology for education: Launch of the Global Reference Group
By Charles North, GPE DCEO, and Michael Trucano, Center for Universal Education, Brookings Institution

Many countries view technology as a mean to transform education, but face multiple challenges when using technology as a learning accelerator. The new Global Reference Group on Technology for Education will offer expert advice and identify opportunities to enhance the current work of GPE partners in technology for education.

4. Foundational learning: What it takes and what works
By the Global Coalition for Foundational Learning

The Global Coalition for Foundational Learning is working with partners to support and amplify efforts to scale effective foundational learning interventions, while also fostering collaboration with governments and nongovernment partners to address the challenges of scaling effectively.

5. Bridging the gap: How technology can mitigate the global teaching crisis
By Mary Burns, Escola Superior de Educação de Paula Frassinetti

Well-designed technology initiatives, managed and implemented by qualified and caring educators, can significantly enhance educational opportunities for both teachers and students and help tackle the ongoing global teaching crisis.

6. Democratic Republic of Congo's pathway to education system transformation
By GPE Secretariat

The Democratic Republic of Congo is building on progress and lessons learned to transform its education system and improve learning for more children.

7. Why invest in girls’ education
By Laura Frigenti, GPE CEO

Gender is at the center of GPE’s strategy to transform education. We are committed to achieving gender equality in and through education, and the Girls’ Education Accelerator is key to our mission.

8. How to finance disability inclusion in education to transform systems and leave no one behind
By Hanna Alasuutari, The World Bank, Pascal Bijleveld, ATscale, Kamal Lamichhane, Institute of Human Sciences at the University of Tsukuba in Japan, Hannah Loryman, Sightsavers, Suezan Lee, Center for Education, Hanna Alasuutari, The World Bank, Raphaelle Martinez, GPE Secretariat

Reflections and recommendations to enable financing of inclusive education in lower-income countries.

9. Transforming education in Somalia
By GPE Secretariat with input from Somalia government officials and partners

Somalia is working to increase access to equitable and inclusive education, and to strengthen government’s capacity in the education sector. Read what the government and its partners say about the country’s transformation journey.

10. Improving professional development: 5 changes teachers want to see
By Mary Burns, Escola Superior de Educação de Paula Frassinetti, and Bianca Buse, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil

Teachers view professional development as providing opportunities to address problems and create solutions directly related to their classrooms. This blog presents 5 ideas from teachers on how to improve continuous professional development.

11. Teachers and technology: What can we do to support educators to prepare students for the future?
By Amy Jo Pentecost, GPE Secretariat, and Cheryl Ann Fernando, Teach For All

How to use artificial intelligence and other technological innovations as tools to support teachers’ work.

12. Transforming education in Cambodia
By GPE Secretariat with input from the Cambodia ministry of education

Cambodia is committed to improving children’s learning and delivering quality education to all, by working with GPE and other partners. H.E. Lim Sothea, Director general of policy and planning at Cambodia’s ministry of education, talks about the country’s journey to achieving large-scale and sustainable change that benefits every child.

13. Mainstreaming climate change in education: Introducing a tool for policy dialogue
By Anna-Maria Tammi, GPE Secretariat

Recognizing the crucial role of education to address climate change, GPE has developed a tool for mainstreaming climate change in education policies and practices and help partners embed climate change considerations within their work.

14. Transforming education in Sierra Leone
By GPE Secretariat with input from Sierra Leone education ministry officials

The government of Sierra Leone is working with GPE and other partners to make sure all children get the education they deserve and that it's fit for purpose. Read what education ministry officials say about their journey of transforming education.

15. Globally united, locally empowered: New tools to measure social and emotional skills
By Julia Finder Johna, USAID, and Bassem Nasir, UNICEF

Measuring socio-emotional and soft skills is essential. However, developing globally applicable, reliable and valid measurement tools is challenging. Learn more about some of the tools developed by governments and partners over the past few years to measure those skills for different purposes and contexts.

You can also revisit our thematic blog series for experts, youth leaders and practitioners’ views:

• Promoting climate action through education
• Valuing teachers' voices to transform education
• A quality education to equip every child and youth with skills to thrive
• Reaffirming the power of civil society
• System transformation: Voices, insights and practices
• Working in partnership to advance gender equality within and through education
• Ensuring refugee inclusion in education systems