Education as the Foundation of the New Social Contract

Reimagining learning to end poverty, create decent work, and achieve inclusion for all

Education cut across all three pillars. It was central to breaking cycles of poverty, building skills for decent work, and ensuring equity and inclusion. Yet, despite progress, millions of children remained out of school, and global crises — including conflicts, climate change, pandemics, and digital divides — continued to reverse hard-won gains.

The Social Summit Political Declaration called for integrating quality education as a core component of poverty reduction strategies, within a lifelong learning approach. It also emphasized skills for the green and digital transitions, which are vital for future labour markets. However, underinvestment, inequities, and systemic exclusion still threatened the realization of education as a universal right.

The session opened with a keynote address by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, framing education as the foundation of the new social contract. This was followed by high-level interventions offering both global and regional perspectives. A moderated dialogue then engaged the speakers in an interactive exchange on how to translate the Political Declaration of the Summit into concrete commitments for reimagining and innovating education.

The discussion concluded with a collective call to action, consolidating shared messages on education as the cornerstone of social development and social justice.