Education in Turbulent Times: Highlights from the RECI Forum 2025
The RECI Education Forum 2025 brought together more than 130 participants from over 40 countries, both online and in Bern, for a day of exchange, reflection, and collaboration under the theme “Education in Turbulent Times.” The Forum gathered practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and young people to explore the role of education amid today’s interconnected crises, from conflict and climate change to funding shortages and technological disruption.
In an interactive open-space setting, participants shared diverse perspectives and co-created ideas for strengthening education as a public good and global common. Discussions highlighted both urgent challenges and inspiring pathways for action: protecting learning in emergencies, reimagining curricula and pedagogy, amplifying youth participation, and addressing the promises and risks of artificial intelligence.
Four renowned speakers opened the day on a panel full of dense, moving and inspiring information and thoughts, moderated by Moira Faul (NORRAG and member of RECI board). The panel discussion focused on how education systems are being tested by overlapping crises: conflict, climate change, funding cuts, democratic backsliding, and technological disruption.
- Corinne Duriaux (Programme Manager for Education in Emergencies at the Swiss Development Cooperation) stressed the importance of the humanitarian, development, peace nexus, warning that education in emergencies is at risk of being deprioritised in global funding despite its central role in resilience and social cohesion.
- Farida Shaheed (UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education) highlighted the role of education as a human right and source of hope, while warning of deliberate attacks on schools, exclusion of vulnerable groups (especially girls, refugees, minorities, children with disabilities), and the rise of curriculum revisionism that erases diversity, gender, or historical injustices.
- Linda Jones (Chief of Education at UNICEF Innocenti Global Office for Research and Foresight) presented UNICEF’s analysis of polycrisis drivers: demographic change, climate stress, and technology. She underlined both risks (inequalities, resource competition) and opportunities (the “demographic dividend,” connectivity, digital tools), provided there is strategic investment.
- Abdulwahab Debbas (Education Specialist at Save the Children Syria) gave a grounded perspective from Syria, describing how funding shortages and demographic pressures overwhelm schools, teachers, and learners. He warned of a potential “lost generation” if quality and equity in education are not addressed.
The panel converged on key themes: education is not only about learning but also protection, stability, and social cohesion; chronic underfunding threatens long-term recovery; teachers are indispensable yet undervalued; and there is a need to reimagine curricula, pedagogy, and evaluation for a world in crisis.
Workshop reports
Following the panel discussion, we transitioned into the interactive segment of the Forum. Thanks to the Open Space setting, participants themselves organised 12 workshops on the topics that matter most to them.
The Forum concluded with a final plenary session using the participatory “Conversation Café” method, where participants and panelists gathered in a circle to share reflections and conclusions. Everyone was welcome to speak, raise questions, or simply listen.
Discussions highlighted the energy and commitment of the community, ongoing funding concerns, and the need to balance dedication with care and wellbeing. Youth voices called for meaningful intergenerational dialogue, while conversations on artificial intelligence stressed both opportunities and risks. Participants emphasised the urgency of reimagining education, curricula, pedagogy, and assessment, for it to support human rights, mental health, creativity, and community.
The session closed on a positive note, encouraging the sharing of innovations and celebrating achievements alongside challenges.
