Paris, February 15, 2025. The 19th edition of the Pedagogy 2025 International Congress took place in Havana from February 10 to 13. Convened by Cuba every two years, this prestigious event promotes the integration of countries around the world, the exchange of experiences, and the unification of efforts to realize the goals of international and regional conferences in order to achieve quality and inclusive education.
At the opening ceremony, a message from UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, was projected.
In her remarks, the UNESCO senior official stated that "in a world marked by deep inequalities, conflicts, and climate crises, education remains our most powerful tool for inclusion, justice, and peace."
She also emphasized that, to truly transform society, education must be reformed. “This principle drove UNESCO's recommendation on education for peace, human rights, and sustainable development, a global framework that considered education as a driver of lasting peace,” she noted.
The UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education also insisted that “now more than ever, governments and educators must unite as global partners to design more inclusive, equitable, and resilient education systems.”
Furthermore, the event featured active participation in the various panels of UNESCO executives and officials who attended. Highlights included the special conference "Education, Nature, Culture, Science, and New Economies: A Key to Achieving the 2030 Agenda," given by Anne Lemaistre, Director of the UNESCO Office in Havana; as well as interventions by Cecilia Barbieri, Director of Global Citizenship and Education for Peace at the headquarters, on the panels on the role of culture and education for development (UNESCO Framework for Cultural and Artistic Education), on socio-emotional learning, and on the Recommendation for Peace and Sustainable Development.
During her stay in Cuba, Cecilia Barbieri held a fruitful meeting with Cuban Minister of Education Naima Trujillo Barreto.
The Congress brought together delegates from Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Spain, the United States, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Russia, Italy, France, Portugal, Serbia, Syria, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Cuba.
Also in attendance were Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz; the Secretary General of the CTC, Ulises Guilarte; members of the Secretariat of the PCC Central Committee, government leaders and other authorities.