UNESCO Revises Youth Agenda in Tokyo Workshop
Seventeen drafting participants met in Tokyo to revise a youth-led education agenda built on input from young people worldwide.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Youth
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UNESCO convened 17 youth drafting participants in Tokyo over two days to revise a Youth Agenda for education beyond 2030. The draft was informed by perspectives gathered from more than 200,000 young people across 194 countries.
Why it matters
The agenda aims to reflect what young people say they need from education, with access, equity, quality learning and technology among the key concerns raised. How diverse youth perspectives are fairly represented in the final text was a point of debate during the workshop.
The input came from more than 200,000 young people in 194 countries, and three young volunteers supported the workshop organization. The final text and its formal adoption timeline were not specified in the source.
The players
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized UN agency that promotes education, science, culture and communication worldwide.
The details
Participants refined the agenda's overall structure, reorganized sections, and discussed opening messages and headings on the first day. Discussions covered the roles of teachers and artificial intelligence and ran beyond schedule, with drafting continuing into the following day.
Timeline
Before the workshop, UNESCO gathered survey perspectives from more than 200,000 youth.
First day of the two-day workshop in Tokyo: participants revised the zero draft.
Following day: the drafting process continued.
Youth Voice
The workshop follows UNESCO's Education 2030 framework, the global education agenda tied to the Sustainable Development Goals, by building youth input directly into its successor goals. It marks a shift from adults setting education priorities alone toward structured participation by students.
Students and youth groups interested in contributing to future education consultations can watch for UNESCO calls for input on the agenda. The source did not specify a public submission process or deadline.
The takeaway
Youth input at this scale shows that students can be treated as partners in shaping education policy rather than only its recipients. Sustained participation like this may influence how future agendas balance access, quality and emerging technology.
Further reading
Explore more youth perspectives on education and global policy in our Youth section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by UNESCO.
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