The Fifth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen will take place in Kyiv in September. The announcement was made by Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska; First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov; and Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, at a joint press conference.
The President’s wife noted that this year’s Summit theme is “Education Shaping the World”, with innovation and technology as integral elements. The event will bring together First Ladies and Gentlemen, Nobel Prize laureates, Ministers of Education, experts, representatives of IT companies, and teachers from various countries.
On the first day, the program includes a presentation of research on the educational process in 14 countries, discussions, and an evening event titled “Gala Tribute to Teachers.” The second day will feature panel discussions on access to education, implementation of innovations, and the role of education in building lasting peace. Summit participants will also give open lectures at 12 universities across Ukraine, as well as in museums, childcare facilities, and schools.
"The topic of education as a cornerstone of any society resonates with everyone. Although the war has made us adopt our own specific approaches to organizing the educational process, other countries face different challenges, such as equal access to education or the lack of opportunities for quality education. This year, we have special guests: teachers. We are proud to have been able to bring teachers from different parts of the world to share their experiences and inspire us," said Olena Zelenska.
Oksen Lisovyi emphasized that countries face different challenges in ensuring quality education, but there is a shared problem – the aging of the teaching profession and the decline of its prestige.
"Young people are reluctant to enter this profession, not only in Ukraine. Unfortunately, teacher salaries are average or below average, not just in Ukraine. And we are working to address this issue here as quickly as possible, despite the war. However, this is a global trend. There is a trend of teachers' prestige declining and the profession being undervalued. We need to talk about all of this because it poses a significant risk to the development of the world overall," the Minister of Education stressed.
Mykhailo Fedorov shared that representatives of IT companies, including Google and Cisco, will attend the Summit, and he announced the formation of partnerships and the launch of new projects.
"Our task is not to distance children from technology and innovation, but to find a place for them. To help teachers and the entire education system navigate this path. In 5, 10, or 15 years, our world will look very different – new technologies will emerge that are only beginning to develop today," noted the First Deputy Prime Minister.
The Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen is an international platform launched by Ukraine in 2021 that has already brought together participants from over 40 countries. The Summits aim to collectively seek solutions, exchange experiences, and share innovations in addressing humanitarian challenges. In particular, over this time, thanks to the support of First Ladies and Gentlemen, funds have been raised for Ukraine, and direct medical partnerships have been established between Ukrainian and foreign clinics.