Learning Poverty and Education Pluralism: The Global Catholic Education Report 2021

Catholic schools serve close to 62 million students globally at the preschool, primary, and secondary levels, with in addition more than 6 million students enrolled at the post-secondary level. By managing the largest non-governmental network of schools and universities in the world, the Catholic Church plays an important role in efforts to achieve SDG4, especially in low-income countries. The 2021 edition of the Global Catholic Education Report will focus on learning poverty, education pluralism, the COVID-19 Crisis, and their implications for the right to quality education. The report will be released on February 12, 2021 at Global Catholic Education. It will explore the impact of the current crisis on educational attainment and learning as well as the issue of education pluralism and how it affects state support for nonprofit faith-based schools and universities. Results from a survey of regulatory frameworks for Catholic schools across countries will also be discussed. After a presentation summarizing the main findings from the Report, panelists will share their views on how Catholic schools and universities globally could improve the education they provide and confront some of the most pressing challenges they face.

This event is part of the G.R.A.C.E. monthly webinar series and is organized jointly by CREDO, GRACE, IFCU, Lumen Christi Institute, NCEA, and OIEC. The photo of school children in Burundi for the RSVP was shared by Ilaria Schnyder and used for the cover of the Global Catholic Education Report 2020.

Presentation: Quentin Wodon, International Office of Catholic Education

Discussants:

François Mabille, Secretary General, International Federation of Catholic Universities

Augusta Muthigani, National Executive Secretary, Commission for Education and Religious Education, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops

Halsey Rogers, Lead Economist, World Bank, Washington, DC